A Playground on Columbus...

A number of months ago, the Village Board voted in favor of purchasing a parcel of land along Columbus, bounded by Marietta and Moneta, so that this could be turned into a playground area. The fact that it is right across the street from where Kelly Avenue School used to be (along with its substantial play area) seemed to me to be fitting. One of the concepts we wanted to invite in our neighborhood impact study, was to try and offer playground and park equipment within safe walking distance of everyone who lives in the Heights.

This is really a rather tall order, as it is virtually impossible to find substantial open land in the Village. So, when this parcel of land became available, it was truly a blessing. A few weeks ago, we had the purchase of the playground equipment on the agenda. The problem was that three of our trustees were unable to make the meeting (for very important reasons). At the meeting, there were three trustees present (Trustees Owen, Pendleton, and Carter) and myself. We were able to just make the quorom with the four of us present. When the playground equipment purchase and installation came up, it was voted down, 2-1. Trustees Owen and Pendleton voted against the purchase; Trustee Carter voted in favor of the same. I threw a vote in there, too, that I was really not allowed to do. So, I thought that I had forced a tie (which really made no difference, as a tie is a defeat, as well). I further found out that I was wrong as to being able to vote to force a tie. So, in the end, the motion was defeated 2-1. Do I think it would have been approved if the other three Trustees had been able to attend the meeting? Without a doubt. But, that's the way the monkey bars sag sometimes.

Does this mean that we can never put a playground there? Luckily, it doesn't mean that. We will have to bring a NEW concept regarding the playground equipment purchase; we just cannot re-introduce the one that was defeated. So, we will be looking for Board approval in the near future for a revised concept for the same idea... a public playground at the corner of Columbus/Marietta/Moneta. The loss of the playground at Kelly Avenue School has left a void for this opportunity in that section of the Heights. We hope that it will be approved when it comes around again; and that we can bring a couple more further south in the Village in the not too distant future.