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Page 3 of 10 <br /> > <br /> > Dear Nancy Ellen, <br /> > As I mentioned earlier I won't be able to attend the Oct. 8th <br /> > board meeting -- <br /> > perhaps I can explain the context of the neighbors feeling in this <br /> > email. <br /> > I want to start by saying that it is hard to find a more <br /> > dedicated and <br /> > accessible group of city employees and private contractors than those <br /> > dealing with Friendly Park. They are all flexible, try hard to <br /> > minimize any troubles the neighbors might have, and I think are <br /> > trying hard <br /> > to protect the trees in the park. <br /> > Nevertheless the park renovation plan seems to be on some kind of <br /> > autopilot that even these well - meaning people can't influence. Its <br /> > no longer <br /> > possible to just put a piece of play equipment on the grass. <br /> > Maintenance people <br /> > require that they be able to drive heavy trucks all around the play <br /> > equipment. <br /> > Safety people require that the area around the play equipment be <br /> > excavated <br /> > 16 inches deep to be filled with wood chips. The footprint of a <br /> > few pieces <br /> > of play equipment expands enormously cutting into the critical root <br /> > zones of <br /> > the truly magnificent trees in the park. <br /> > I don't think this is what anyone who went to the park workshops <br /> > had in mind. <br /> > In his presentation, Philip Richardson tried to warn us about what <br /> > was coming, <br /> > but I think most people (me included) ended up thinking the renovation <br /> > could be done with a soft touch, whereas the autopilot appears <br /> > immutable. <br /> > Given this context it isn't surprising that the neighbors are <br /> > keen to keep the <br /> > footprint of the adult play equipment as small as possible and to <br /> > avoid any more <br /> > concrete in the park. The adult equipment has never been a good fit <br /> > to this small <br /> > park and fits better to a large park such as Washington or <br /> > Jefferson. Even <br /> > before the construction began we felt that the renovation of the park <br /> > was <br /> > over - programmed. The main amenity of Friendly Park to the <br /> > neighborhood <br /> > is that it provides a relaxing and shaded park area and we would <br /> > like to <br /> > preserve this. <br /> > If it is still possible, I really think it would best to have the <br /> 10/5/2007 <br />