FAIRHOPE, Alabama -- The City Council wants two groups with differing visions for a community park to learn to play together.
At issue is the future of Fairhopers Community Park, where the wooden playground was built by a grassroots coalition of volunteers in the mid-1990s. The playground and park also sport original artwork and is popular with parents of small children.
Today the wood is rotted, splintered and warped, to the point that a Fairhope inspector recently identified sections that were not safe. Immediate repairs were made, according to Mayor Tim Kant, but city leaders agree that the park needs to be upgraded and made accessible to handicapped children.
But on Tuesday, the City Council was faced with two groups with seemingly different visions for the park, and the ensuing squabble included some name-calling. At one point, Councilman Mike Ford became so frustrated that he called one of the groups "butt-headed."
Play by the Bay was Ford’s target, although he apologized in advance for his choice of words. That group, headed by Katie Evans, has been working on a plan that involves replacing the wooden playground with one made out of a widely used composite material that resembles wood.
On the other side was Leanne Pearson, who was involved in the original construction of the playground and was representing a group of park founders with a different idea. She said they have an original consultant working with them on how best to preserve at least some of the wooden structures.
Evans said the structures remain unsafe. She said her group understood that it had the council’s blessing to plan and organize the rebuilding project but that Pearson’s group had sent emails and planned meetings "behind our backs."
Evans repeatedly threatened that Play by the Bay was withdrawing its support because Pearson’s group was told by Council President Lonnie Mixon that it could also make a proposal.
"We are a small group of moms," Evans said. "We're not interested in 'our group vs. your group,' Bloods vs. Crips type of situation."
She said the other group was not "honest and above-board." She also said, "Apparently we are seeing the dark side of the political season," referring to upcoming municipal elections.
Some council members appeared baffled by the dispute, asking why the two sides couldn't get together and work out a common plan for the park.
"I could be mistaken, but it looks like y'all are packing up your trunk and leaving just because someone disagrees with you," Ford told Evans.
Mixon said he saw nothing wrong with letting another group of park supporters have their say, and that listening to all sides was part of his job as an elected official.
Speaking second, Pearson said she was "rattled" by Evans' comments. "We are stewards," she said.
Pearson said, "I've never done anything behind anybody's back."
Both sides seemed to agree that handicapped accessibility was important, and both wanted to preserve the artwork in some way.
"We will get the park up to snuff. We will raise some money. We can do it together," Pearson said.
Mixon, saying it was clear the problem would not be resolved Tuesday, suggested that a committee of city officials, some council members and representatives of both groups should sit down to resolve the differences. Evans again said Play by the Bay would withdraw, but then appeared to change her mind and agreed to be part of the committee.
At issue is the future of Fairhopers Community Park, where the wooden playground was built by a grassroots coalition of volunteers in the mid-1990s. The playground and park also sport original artwork and is popular with parents of small children.
Today the wood is rotted, splintered and warped, to the point that a Fairhope inspector recently identified sections that were not safe. Immediate repairs were made, according to Mayor Tim Kant, but city leaders agree that the park needs to be upgraded and made accessible to handicapped children.
But on Tuesday, the City Council was faced with two groups with seemingly different visions for the park, and the ensuing squabble included some name-calling. At one point, Councilman Mike Ford became so frustrated that he called one of the groups "butt-headed."
Play by the Bay was Ford’s target, although he apologized in advance for his choice of words. That group, headed by Katie Evans, has been working on a plan that involves replacing the wooden playground with one made out of a widely used composite material that resembles wood.
On the other side was Leanne Pearson, who was involved in the original construction of the playground and was representing a group of park founders with a different idea. She said they have an original consultant working with them on how best to preserve at least some of the wooden structures.
Evans said the structures remain unsafe. She said her group understood that it had the council’s blessing to plan and organize the rebuilding project but that Pearson’s group had sent emails and planned meetings "behind our backs."
Evans repeatedly threatened that Play by the Bay was withdrawing its support because Pearson’s group was told by Council President Lonnie Mixon that it could also make a proposal.
"We are a small group of moms," Evans said. "We're not interested in 'our group vs. your group,' Bloods vs. Crips type of situation."
She said the other group was not "honest and above-board." She also said, "Apparently we are seeing the dark side of the political season," referring to upcoming municipal elections.
Some council members appeared baffled by the dispute, asking why the two sides couldn't get together and work out a common plan for the park.
"I could be mistaken, but it looks like y'all are packing up your trunk and leaving just because someone disagrees with you," Ford told Evans.
Mixon said he saw nothing wrong with letting another group of park supporters have their say, and that listening to all sides was part of his job as an elected official.
Speaking second, Pearson said she was "rattled" by Evans' comments. "We are stewards," she said.
Pearson said, "I've never done anything behind anybody's back."
Both sides seemed to agree that handicapped accessibility was important, and both wanted to preserve the artwork in some way.
"We will get the park up to snuff. We will raise some money. We can do it together," Pearson said.
Mixon, saying it was clear the problem would not be resolved Tuesday, suggested that a committee of city officials, some council members and representatives of both groups should sit down to resolve the differences. Evans again said Play by the Bay would withdraw, but then appeared to change her mind and agreed to be part of the committee.
No comments:
Post a Comment