Published: Saturday, July 2, 2011
Citizen ideas would reclaim Clark Park
EVERETT -- The city could improve Clark Park by adding picnic tables, inviting bands to play or holding an arts festival.
Those are just some of the ideas developed by a community group put together by the city. The results of their work can be found in a 47-page report just released.
Everett's Parks and Recreation Department wanted to come up with some low-cost ways to improve the park. Clark Park, at 2400 Lombard Ave., is the city's oldest. In recent times it's earned a reputation for crime and vandalism.
Vandalism of a historic gazebo at the park was so bad the city had to lock the structure behind a fence for most of a decade.
This spring, officials gathered people from the surrounding neighborhood, churches and businesses, and from local organizations including the city's Historical Commission.
The community group's top three ideas for the park include improving landscaping and lighting and to form a neighborhood group to monitor activities there. There were dozens of other ideas generated, too.
Parks staff are now evaluating the top half-dozen ideas -- as voted on by the group -- to see what it would take to make them happen, said Paul Kaftanski, parks and recreation director.
"We need to take a closer look at the ideas that have some energy and support in the community," he said.
Cost is a big consideration for the city, which is facing a $10 million projected gap between spending and revenue next year.
However, some of the ideas on the list may not cost much to implement, Kaftanski said.
By the end of August, the parks department should have a better idea of what's feasible to do now and what might need to wait a year or two.
Reporter Debra Smith: 425-339-3197 or dsmith@heraldnet.com.
More online
You can read the Clark Park report on the Web at heraldnet.com or tinyurl.com/ClarkParkReport.
Those are just some of the ideas developed by a community group put together by the city. The results of their work can be found in a 47-page report just released.
Everett's Parks and Recreation Department wanted to come up with some low-cost ways to improve the park. Clark Park, at 2400 Lombard Ave., is the city's oldest. In recent times it's earned a reputation for crime and vandalism.
Vandalism of a historic gazebo at the park was so bad the city had to lock the structure behind a fence for most of a decade.
This spring, officials gathered people from the surrounding neighborhood, churches and businesses, and from local organizations including the city's Historical Commission.
The community group's top three ideas for the park include improving landscaping and lighting and to form a neighborhood group to monitor activities there. There were dozens of other ideas generated, too.
Parks staff are now evaluating the top half-dozen ideas -- as voted on by the group -- to see what it would take to make them happen, said Paul Kaftanski, parks and recreation director.
"We need to take a closer look at the ideas that have some energy and support in the community," he said.
Cost is a big consideration for the city, which is facing a $10 million projected gap between spending and revenue next year.
However, some of the ideas on the list may not cost much to implement, Kaftanski said.
By the end of August, the parks department should have a better idea of what's feasible to do now and what might need to wait a year or two.
Reporter Debra Smith: 425-339-3197 or dsmith@heraldnet.com.
More online
You can read the Clark Park report on the Web at heraldnet.com or tinyurl.com/ClarkParkReport.
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