This (located at 4208 Kingsbury Street) might be the worst park I've ever seen (def the worst I've seen in Jax). Like in a "I can't believe this is open" type of bad. What gives? The neighborhood around it doesn't look bad. Just a funding thing or what?
Graffiti everywhere (this, among others, was on the main bathroom)
(http://i.imgur.com/rE2MOSg.jpg)
Dangerously broken bleachers with no signs or anything. Just wide open for anyone.
(http://i.imgur.com/i3ft70e.jpg)
Some random gravel pile (kids were playing on it) was just stacked up in the corner of the park.
(http://i.imgur.com/bqnARUe.jpg)
Homeless blanket under main gazebo
(http://i.imgur.com/1wy97H4.jpg)
The edge was guarded with a broken fence backed up against a spooky abandoned house (kids were throwing rocks from the gravel pile into its windows)
(http://i.imgur.com/XVB1mly.jpg)
The advertised splash pad (which was why we came) looks like it hasn't been turned on in a very long time
(http://i.imgur.com/ybLQ6dO.jpg)
This wasn't everything & there was lots more I didn't take pictures of.
The men's bathroom didn't have graffiti when went. The walls and floors of the men's bathroom were tiled which made it looked nice. (I thought) I was just there the other day and the fountain worked. I was playing in it. Everything else you listed I completely over looked on my last visit. I never go on the bleachers because I'm always on the swings.
Quote from: benfranklinbof on June 18, 2015, 07:38:26 AM
The men's bathroom didn't have graffiti when went. The walls and floors of the men's bathroom were tiled which made it looked nice. (I thought) I was just there the other day and the fountain worked. I was playing in it. Everything else you listed I completely over looked on my last visit. I never go on the bleachers because I'm always on the swings.
This was about 2-3 weeks ago.
Sounds like a job for a certain anthropomorphic trashcan.
PSU, thanks for the input.
The 'gravel pit' you speak of is the shitty clay that the city delivers for us to use on the fields. Kids play in it because: kids.
Graffiti happens. It's not as bad as it has been, but during the summer, there isn't much going on in the way of sports. During the baseballs seasons, this gets nipped in the bud fairly quickly. And the 'homeless' people keep to themselves and hang out in the shade. Not a huge deal to me. JSO patrols quite frequently.
I've requested money to repair the bleachers from the city. Limited funds. The Athletic Association doesn't have the necessary funding to take care of replacing it. The park handles a majority of the general maintenance, but those boards need to be replaced. If you would like to donate we need: (90) 2x10x14' and the (540) 1/2" x 3" carriage bolts w/ washers and nuts, then I'll be more than happy to accept the donation and will even take care of the paint and install. (A cash donation of about $1,600 would cover it as well)
The splash fountain works and has been working daily. You have to push the button.
If there are other things you'd like to address, I'll be happy to listen, but it all boils down to a lack of funding.
The only real way to make a difference in this city is to get the neighbors involved. If you live in the area, knock on doors, start a drive or a Go-Fund me account. Awareness that there is a problem is half the battle. The City can't pay for everything, I maintain part of a neighborhood park in Avondale, because I know the city does not have the funds to do so.
I think the park is in Warren Jones district, I'd contact them and inquire as to the condition and then report back. The area is just fine, no need to scare the bejesus out of people, its right next to Ruth Upson Elementary, which had been an A and B school, but for 2014 was graded as a C school.
Quote from: Josh on June 18, 2015, 08:22:59 AM
Sounds like a job for a certain anthropomorphic trashcan.
Brilliant ;D
QuoteYou have to push the button.
We drove from Riverside to visit the splash pad two days ago. It worked, but was overrun by unattended children (Three moms in the other corner of the park dancing to a song playing through the cell phone). My daughters were exposed to some language that I would prefer they hadn't been and we left with a bloody lip caused by the young ruffians going the wrong way on the slide. That being said...yeah...just press the button :)
I used to live at 605 Talbot Ave. Literally the wrong side of the railroad tracks.
Silence on Corby Street.
Buyers buy from sellers thrilled to leave.
Quote from: Non-RedNeck Westsider on June 18, 2015, 10:11:23 AM
PSU, thanks for the input.
The 'gravel pit' you speak of is the shitty clay that the city delivers for us to use on the fields. Kids play in it because: kids.
Graffiti happens. It's not as bad as it has been, but during the summer, there isn't much going on in the way of sports. During the baseballs seasons, this gets nipped in the bud fairly quickly. And the 'homeless' people keep to themselves and hang out in the shade. Not a huge deal to me. JSO patrols quite frequently.
I've requested money to repair the bleachers from the city. Limited funds. The Athletic Association doesn't have the necessary funding to take care of replacing it. The park handles a majority of the general maintenance, but those boards need to be replaced. If you would like to donate we need: (90) 2x10x14' and the (540) 1/2" x 3" carriage bolts w/ washers and nuts, then I'll be more than happy to accept the donation and will even take care of the paint and install. (A cash donation of about $1,600 would cover it as well)
The splash fountain works and has been working daily. You have to push the button.
If there are other things you'd like to address, I'll be happy to listen, but it all boils down to a lack of funding.
Thanks, NRW. It sounds like some of the patrons (or just neighborhood hooligans) coupled w funding is the issue. It could be a nice park, but def needs a lot of things ironed out. I did also see tons of fire ants & a lot of trash about too. Overall I wouldn't go back, but that doesn't mean I wouldn't give it another chance if things turned around.
I should've said I tried the button on the splash pad (since obviously the water's not gonna just run forever). It didn't work. Like I said, this was a couple weeks ago so maybe they hadn't turned the system on yet for the summer. Who knows.
This is truly a shame being a previous home owner in the area for close to 20 years. I had 2 homes there and wound up moving away because of the property costs. I fought it to the end but I moved back to Old Arlington on the river by the marina and you know this is the best kept secret in the city. Home values are amazing and just as close or closer to downtown than MH. Lots of young people moving here like they did in Riverside and MH for a while before values got out of control. We love our area and hope it will continue to return to it's former glory. It's well on it's way
There are quite a few things to iron out, no one's denying that. Unfortunately, a good majority of it does revolve around funding.
I had a full summer of AL Baseball lined up, but couldn't pull it off due to the shape the big field is in (poor lighting, no fence, etc..). It's been a pretty huge task, but I'm working on a proposal to get the big field up front (including the bleachers ;) ) fixed up in a manner that will allow the park to keep the 2 adjoining fields and allow Lee HS to actually have a home field.
And I know baseball doesn't really help much with your splash-pad adventures, but more exposure is a good thing.
Its all i ever hear is "not city funding"...i call a big line of BS...if weve got millions and millions to just hand over to a billionaire yet we cant mow the yard or keep up parks...i call you peole just blowing smoke up all our ass'...call it lime it is...
Quote from: Rob68 on June 22, 2015, 09:24:36 AM
Its all i ever hear is "not city funding"...i call a big line of BS...if weve got millions and millions to just hand over to a billionaire yet we cant mow the yard or keep up parks...i call you peole just blowing smoke up all our ass'...call it lime it is...
I hear ya, but it's a pretty simple concept. There's money there and there are many hands out asking for it. Persistence and planning is the only way you're going to get it.
I can ask the city for $50k to upgrade the park because....
or
I can keep hammering them with an itemized proposal detailing where the money is going being spent.
Which do you think is going to work? Probably neither, but just in case, I won't even bother with #1.
The people that do are the same people don't understand why they're told no all the time.
Quote from: Non-RedNeck Westsider on June 22, 2015, 10:29:10 AM
Quote from: Rob68 on June 22, 2015, 09:24:36 AM
Its all i ever hear is "not city funding"...i call a big line of BS...if weve got millions and millions to just hand over to a billionaire yet we cant mow the yard or keep up parks...i call you peole just blowing smoke up all our ass'...call it lime it is...
I hear ya, but it's a pretty simple concept. There's money there and there are many hands out asking for it. Persistence and planning is the only way you're going to get it.
I can ask the city for $50k to upgrade the park because....
or
I can keep hammering them with an itemized proposal detailing where the money is going being spent.
Which do you think is going to work? Probably neither, but just in case, I won't even bother with #1.
The people that do are the same people don't understand why they're told no all the time.
Maybe some type of neighborhood awareness or cleanup would help a lot? It wouldn't do everything of course, but I bet if you got some caring people together who have a vested interest in the neighborhood they'd be willing to help. You could knock out things like the grass, graffiti, fire ants, trash, etc for cheap. Maybe even fix the bleachers if someone has the right stuff.
Quote from: JECJAX on June 21, 2015, 06:50:03 PM
This is truly a shame being a previous home owner in the area for close to 20 years. I had 2 homes there and wound up moving away because of the property costs. I fought it to the end but I moved back to Old Arlington on the river by the marina and you know this is the best kept secret in the city. Home values are amazing and just as close or closer to downtown than MH. Lots of young people moving here like they did in Riverside and MH for a while before values got out of control. We love our area and hope it will continue to return to it's former glory. It's well on it's way
Have a surplus JEA house on the river next to a FIND project to sell you.
Quote from: Noone on June 22, 2015, 11:04:38 AM
Quote from: JECJAX on June 21, 2015, 06:50:03 PM
This is truly a shame being a previous home owner in the area for close to 20 years. I had 2 homes there and wound up moving away because of the property costs. I fought it to the end but I moved back to Old Arlington on the river by the marina and you know this is the best kept secret in the city. Home values are amazing and just as close or closer to downtown than MH. Lots of young people moving here like they did in Riverside and MH for a while before values got out of control. We love our area and hope it will continue to return to it's former glory. It's well on it's way
Have a surplus JEA house on the river next to a FIND project to sell you.
Tell me about this area. Is it the neighborhoods east of Matthews Bridge?
Quote from: peestandingup on June 22, 2015, 12:25:18 PM
Quote from: Noone on June 22, 2015, 11:04:38 AM
Quote from: JECJAX on June 21, 2015, 06:50:03 PM
This is truly a shame being a previous home owner in the area for close to 20 years. I had 2 homes there and wound up moving away because of the property costs. I fought it to the end but I moved back to Old Arlington on the river by the marina and you know this is the best kept secret in the city. Home values are amazing and just as close or closer to downtown than MH. Lots of young people moving here like they did in Riverside and MH for a while before values got out of control. We love our area and hope it will continue to return to it's former glory. It's well on it's way
Have a surplus JEA house on the river next to a FIND project to sell you.
Tell me about this area. Is it the neighborhoods east of Matthews Bridge?
There is talk of a new CRA boundary. Whatever that is. This will be under new city council boundary leadership. All happens after July 1.
^ I meant tell me about it in general, in comparison to say some place like Murray Hill.
^Maybe JECJAX can share more.
Quote from: peestandingup on June 22, 2015, 06:30:33 PM
^ I meant tell me about it in general, in comparison to say some place like Murray Hill.
This is what I found.
http://www.coj.net/departments/planning-and-development/docs/community-planning-division/plans-and-studies/old-arlington-nap-adopted--complete.aspx