Northwood News ♦ April 2004

North Four Corners Park Update

By Jim Zepp and Carole Barth

Following the decision at the last Association meeting to request an appointment with our County Council representative to discuss our concerns about the Parks and Recreation Departments’ two competing proposals for the North Four Corners Park expansion and to present our community’s alternative, NFCCA President Charles Pritchard contacted Marilyn Praisner’s office for this purpose.  Her legislative aide indicated that they are aware of the issue and are monitoring developments.  However, the earliest date that a meeting could be scheduled was June 4.  While this date was accepted for an appointment, the NFCCA will actively seek other avenues for communicating its position to County officials, including contacting the local press.

Since the Parks Department staff had previously said that another public meeting on the park would be held in March but no notice had been received by March 8th, NFCCA Vice President Jim Zepp spoke with Heidi Sussman, the planner assigned to the project, to confirm whether or not this was scheduled.  She informed him that the Parks Department management has decided to broaden the facilities planning project to include the existing park.  Among the implications of this change is that the Parks Department may address the overflow-parking problem by demolishing the recreation center building to build a larger parking lot.  Zepp noted that parking was not the only issue raised by residents.  The large groups that the Parks Department rents the facility to and the human defecation due to the lack of restrooms would not be solved by more parking spaces.  Sussman responded that these other concerns could be solved through better park management and installation of portable toilets.

More important is the question as to whether the purpose of the North Four Corners Park is to serve the residents of the surrounding neighborhoods or a much larger area.  Obviously, expanding the park’s facilities to attract larger crowds will still have adverse impacts for the surrounding community.  Increased parking implies that our local park is serving a regional clientele rather than local area residents who are more likely to walk or bike there.

As a result of the expanded planning effort, the Parks Department will probably not schedule a public meeting until June.  Zepp proposed that the County planners meet with representatives from the community during the development of these new plans so that their concerns might be addressed in a more acceptable manner.  This offer was not accepted.

This situation makes clear that only through persistent and determined effort will the community’s position be heard and made a priority.  The support of our residents will be very important in making this happen.   ■