Published: Saturday, January 21, 2012
Clark Park could use 'friends'
A meeting Tuesday will seek ways to improve the oldest park in Everett
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Sarah Weiser / The Herald
Ashley Edwards, 18, laughs with her friend, Ardith Cerecero, 18, as the Everett residents use the swings Friday at Clark Park in Everett. A community meeting will be held Tuesday to discuss how to increase the involvement of neighbors in the upkeep and the improvement of the park.
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EVERETT -- The parks department is helping launch a "friends" group for a park that's earned a reputation for crime and vandalism.
Clark Park, at 2400 Lombard Ave., is the city's oldest. The city has been working with neighbors, churches and businesses around the park to come up with low-cost ways to improve it.
A community meeting about the park is set for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Trinity Lutheran Church, 2324 Lombard Ave.
Just what exactly the friends group would look like is up to whoever shows up, said parks and recreation director Paul Kaftanski.
The city plans to help get things rolling but officials want people living around the park to take more ownership of its future -- and the friends group.
"It could be formal or informal," he said. "We're going to give them some ideas and let them take the next step."
The city plans to spend some money on the park this year. The parks department has set aside up to $50,000 for Clark Park.
It's not clear just what those investments will be yet, but it will likely be for improvements that bring people into the park, such as picnic tables, lighting or landscaping. It could be for more parks programs at the park.
The parks director said he's hopeful if some of the measures are effective, the city can "free the gazebo." The historic gazebo at the park has been behind a fence on and off for years because of vandalism.
Reporter Debra Smith: 425-339-3197 or dsmith@heraldnet.com
Clark Park, at 2400 Lombard Ave., is the city's oldest. The city has been working with neighbors, churches and businesses around the park to come up with low-cost ways to improve it.
A community meeting about the park is set for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Trinity Lutheran Church, 2324 Lombard Ave.
Just what exactly the friends group would look like is up to whoever shows up, said parks and recreation director Paul Kaftanski.
The city plans to help get things rolling but officials want people living around the park to take more ownership of its future -- and the friends group.
"It could be formal or informal," he said. "We're going to give them some ideas and let them take the next step."
The city plans to spend some money on the park this year. The parks department has set aside up to $50,000 for Clark Park.
It's not clear just what those investments will be yet, but it will likely be for improvements that bring people into the park, such as picnic tables, lighting or landscaping. It could be for more parks programs at the park.
The parks director said he's hopeful if some of the measures are effective, the city can "free the gazebo." The historic gazebo at the park has been behind a fence on and off for years because of vandalism.
Reporter Debra Smith: 425-339-3197 or dsmith@heraldnet.com
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