Park it in the park

Posted on by Ron Ogle

We are now assured that Pack Square Park (with reduced water features due to post-Katrina plywood prices—but with the $450,000 Veterans’ Memorial “rock”) will, when finished, supposedly last 100 years or more. And it yet needs $1.5 million of the $2 million maintenance endowment to keep it going.

But with the salary of the executive director for the Pack Square Conservancy added in—at $60,000 per year times 100 years—that’s $6 million more needed, if the board members work for free.

Last week the Conservancy revealed that it is considering having volunteers patrol the park, believing [their] activity in the park would make it uncomfortable for those engaged in undesirable behavior.

I propose activity! This is our playground—and I do not believe we have to wait for the $60,000-a-year playground supervisor to inform us what and when to play, right?

Without authorization, I hereby invite unregistered jugglers to demonstrate their skills in the shadow of Vance Monument at 1 p.m. on May 9, while rock balancers perform on the edge of new fountains, surrounded by a harmonica orchestra, sidewalk chalk artists, Girl Scouts, Republican folksingers, unicyclists, plein-air painters, socialists, unlicensed dancers, bankers, peace activists and marble shooters!

Imagine a Saturday Art Market—every Saturday—in Pack Square Park. Owners of the park (you) can read about how to manifest a Downtown Art Market, at www.EugeneSaturdayMarket.org. Let’s we-the-people meet under the magnolia tree every Saturday at noon to get this rolling.

— Ron Ogle
Asheville

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8 thoughts on “Park it in the park”

  4. cecibothwell

    I’m slated to be at a book fair in East Flat Rock all day on the 9th, but if it rains I’ll make the next one.

    You said it Ron. I’m eager to take a seat on Council and insist on a full audit of the Conservancy books. Local garden designers and local contractors could have made the few necessary improvements to our park in less than half the time with far, far less than half the money. When I’ve questioned the Conservancy about costs I’ve been told that “Concrete prices went up.” I told them they might consider grass, given that it’s a park.

  5. BOBERT

    CITY COUNCIL WASTES AGAIN,THESE FOLKS ARE TOTALLY OUT OF CONTROL AND COULD NOT MANAGE A CHICKEN COOP. THEY WASTE THE PUBLIC’S MONEY LIKE CRAZY FOR THIER PET PROJECTS DOWNTOWN WHILE THE REST OF THE THE CITY WASTES AWAY.
    OREGON ,HERE I COME.

  6. fmerenda

    Just a FYI, this falls during LEAF, I’m not sure how that will affect turnout.

    But I’m planning on being there! Thanks for the link JBo!

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