The Monument
Stopped by Washington Park this morning for the farmers' market and took in the Lincoln-Douglas debate memorial. Overall, I think it looks nice, although I wish it had been about 15 feet closer to Fifth Street; its placement has cost the park quite a bit of grassy space. And there's a lot of concrete that has gone in -- which will make a scorching hot slab in the summertime.
At the risk of costing even more grass in the park, I wonder if the city has ever considered putting a playground there. The one on the near north riverfront gets some use, but not a lot; certainly downtown is just as close to populations of children as that one, and probably closer. If the city really wants to get people downtown, having something for their children to do is a good way to accomplish it. And that's a structure that would attract people every day, not just during sesquicentennials.
At the risk of costing even more grass in the park, I wonder if the city has ever considered putting a playground there. The one on the near north riverfront gets some use, but not a lot; certainly downtown is just as close to populations of children as that one, and probably closer. If the city really wants to get people downtown, having something for their children to do is a good way to accomplish it. And that's a structure that would attract people every day, not just during sesquicentennials.
posted by Allthenewsthatfits at 2:28 PM
9 Comments:
There once was a nice playground in Washington Park in the north west corner. I guess the kids were killing the grass and the park district decided to remove it.
Yeah, those darn kids, always running around laughing and making noise. I can see why the park district wouldn't want the tranquility of the downtown square to be disturbed.
Um, just because 2:16 said it doesn't mean it is true, allthenews.
Come on, you know that.
Call Mike Parks and ask him. He'll take your call and he'll answer your question.
You don't have to wait for the media to do these things, ya know. :)
So there wasn't a playground at the northwest corner of the park?
Might have been. Would make sense.
But I wouldn't take 2:16's word for it that "the kids were killing the grass and the park district decided to remove it".
I would remove that fountain and put in a fountain kids can play in like most other cities have. The ones that are flush with the ground and the water just pours back in through a grate. That in my opinion would be more beneficial to the downtown than a big concrete and rock monument.
The Park District plans to replace the fountain early in 2009 with a fountain that is designed for people to walk through and play in. When the water is turned off, the center of the park will be usable space...ie concrete, with flat steel grates for the water.
Money is budgeted and pending approval from IL Dept Public Health, since this new fountain must meet specs..ie chlorinated water.
That is excellent news. I think that change will make the park a more attractive place for families with kids.
Before the lights were placed in the park, we had booming, local industry. There were many vendors of ornate, ingenious crack pipes and one hitters sold and/or traded. Sales tax revenue was a little underreported though.
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