The Whole Community Invited to Share a Vision
In one of the most intriguing events at City Hall to date, a special Council meeting convened last night in a round table discussion. Along with all Council members present were the Parks Commissioners, the Harbor Commissioners and the public. All were invited to comment on the proposed Steelheaders efforts to seek Great Lakes Fisheries grant monies for a steelwall and ten and a half foot cement walkway on the edge of the new linear park area (behind the old DPW building off Dunkley Avenue).
This unique event was a cohesive way to determine how to proceed. It was finally decided to postpone such a push effort to reach a grant application on September 8th in order to explore other possible grant sources as well as asking the whole community to begin to share a vision of what might be in this new space of green.
The Celery Pond Advocates presented 8 slides of power point pictures to show what we’d recommend. One major recommendation was to keep the floodplain open and with the present green space available on the site.
We strongly urged Council and the Commissioners to consider a more natural encasement or a lower stone encasement for the riverfront along with a natural gravel path - which would still qualify for handicap accessible requirements.
The resolution of Councilwoman, Suzie Fitzgibbon, appealed to both the Steelheaders and Celery Pond Advocates to work together to come forward with alternative ideas. The resolution was seconded and approved. It was suggested that along with this collaborative effort, the whole community be invited to come forward to create a community planning process while working with all present in the round table officials.
What a dynamic and new way for us to explore what community living can be. We applaud all parties for another segue of action and involvement.
