The City of Ypsilanti will no longer run two of it's most popular parks, instead turning over the running of said to a nonprofit organization. The city council said they did this to save money. The City Council voted Tuesday to turn the operation and maintenance of the Riverside and Frog Island parks to the Depot Town Community Development Corporation.
The city said they would close the parks (yeah, uh, I don't think so, we'd all still go and use them and TRY and stop us) and Mayor Paul Schreiber called the parks under utilized.
Speak for yourself Paul, just because the Elvisfest isn't going on and making money doesn't mean people aren't under using them. They just prefer low key soccer games and jogging and walking the track and walking dogs on Frog Island.
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I agree, YCD. I walk through Riverside Park every day on the way home, and jog down to Frog Island in the evening twice a week. I love the serenity, the uncluttered natural space, the lack of visual noise. If you have a chance to read the parks plan (it is linked from the Depot Town Association website) I would be very curious to hear your opinion.
Ypsi residents pay taxes to support the parks. Ypsi residents should have a voice in how they are to be used and what they want in them--and what they do not want.
I just don't think Ypsilantians want to see our beautiful parks Cantonized with a lot of visual clutter: signs, fitness trail stations everywhere, buildings, structures, and other unnecessary things.
I was told there will be a public meeting Sept. 25(next Tuesday) to discuss this plan. I'd like to go, but I don't know where it is. Perhaps some sharp investigative reporter could find out. :)
Hey, Dixit, your reputation precedes you---welcome!
Yeah, I mean what do we REALLY require on Frog Island? Mowing it, right? If mowing a football size field is gonna bust our budgets THAT badly maybe it's time to find someone else to run things. Frog Island and Riverside park are gems we should have been protecting from the beginning, they are HUGE city assets and you are ABSOLUTELY right, we don't want nor need (nor will we accept) some kind of corporate feces on a sign claiming it to be Dominos Frog Island Park or Carnahan Chevrolet presents Riverside Park.
I'll look and see about the meeting and what to expect.
Here's a link to comment on what you think the city's MASTER PLAN should be in this, fill it out and return it by October 10th
http://cityofypsilanti.com/news/ParksSurvey
OR
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=nKIMEUdJMj2LOh_2b8QG7VLA_3d_3d
And as a long time reader of your blog Ms. Dixit, I went ahead and posted a link from here to your place
Wow!--thanks for the link! That's great. I appreciate it.
"Carnahan Chevrolet presents Riverside Park." Ha! I had to laugh--and also shudder a little, too, at the prospect. Ick.
There is said to be a Native American cemetery in Riverside park, on the northeastern side, below the large houses on Huron. And sure enough, it is marked as such on (a repro of) a very old Ypsi map I have at home. Another cemetery is marked kind of where Powell's Pub and the parking lot just to the north of it is. (random historical facts...)
Aaaaaaah, an Indian burial ground? Gee what could go wrong building anything THERE?
As a scientific reference I'll use the issues Kyle, Stan, Cartman and Kenny had with one on South Park.
Excellent facts, I love history, especially hidden history
>> Another cemetery is marked kind of where Powell's Pub and the parking lot just to the north
As a once-in-a-while visitor to Powells, I winder if the owners know that. I bet they would get a kick out it.
Would that be the fenced off area just across Jarvis? The fenced off and never developed area?
Glimmertwinfan, that's a good idea. I should see if I can dig up my map (the "Hinsdale" map, made by a onetime U-M anthropologist) and see if they'd like a copy of it.
Mr. Punk, yep, that's as near as I can make it out on my map. Back then the Ypsi road system was not as developed, so there's a degree of guesswork. But it looks like that spot; just before Huron curves and heads over to LeForge.
I love old maps. I have several for Ypsilanti from the 20th, 19th and 18th centuries. I love looking at them. There is so much info there. Like the fact that my street, Bagley, used to be the farm of a family named Bagley, whose house used to be on Cross St. and whose farm stretched from Cross to Forest. It's fascinating stuff.
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