Having a Vision!
There are a multitude of factors that stunt the potential of Sandusky and prevent its blossoming into a much more prosperous community.
Success has been like the ebb and flow of Lake Erie upon our shores; no matter how high the tide brings in the waves of success, the waves always seem to recede.
While many individuals have taken up the cause of rejuvenating the city the quagmire of jealousy and political in fighting has caused the city to lose its way, its focus, its priorities, its mission, and its vision.
We believe the city’s best chance for success is to envision what we want the city to become and then formulate a strategic plan to get us there. By setting goals upfront the community can best judge and gauge the performance of their elected officials.
The following Vision and Strategic Plan is by no means a comprehensive plan but could be considered as part of a much larger vision the community needs to develop.
As with any vision that is borne from a community, it makes no pretension of unanimous acceptance and is subject to change by the will of the community. This is merely a starting point of conversation submitted to the community for their analysis, discussion, critique, and/or possible acceptance.
Why our Parks are Important!
Every park user knows the benefits of green space, especially in urban and suburban environments, but the benefits of our parks, trails, and green spaces extend far beyond users - daily they touch the lives of every person who lives and works in the community. From improving our physical and psychological health, to strengthening our communities, and making our cities and neighborhoods more attractive places to live and work - the benefits of parks are endless - to individuals, our communities, the economy and the environment.
Broadly defined, parks provide a diverse and quantifiable range of benefits that immeasurably improve our quality of life. And, although more than 80% of Americans live in urban and suburban environments, less than 1/10 of one-percent of Federal government resources, and on average somewhat less than this in state resources is committed to these areas. While the reasons for this are varied; the fact remains that every community has an opportunity and a responsibility to define its present and create a better future for its children and generations yet to come. Stepping forward to fill this gap by leveraging much needed private-sector resources and working to communicate the substantial elemental benefits provided by parks and green spaces is what many communities must now do to find unique ways to fund their parks.
Below is an overview of the tangible benefits provided by parks and public open spaces; together they provide very real reasons for us to invest in such community green infrastructure in its entirety.
Parks offer opportunities to enrich the quality of life for persons of all ages and abilities. Strong evidence shows that when people have access to parks, they exercise more. Regular physical activity has been shown to increase health and reduce the risk of a wide range of diseases, including heart disease, hypertension, colon cancer, and diabetes. Physical activity also relieves symptoms of depression and anxiety, improves mood, and enhances psychological well-being. Beyond the benefits of exercise, a growing body of research shows that contact with the natural world improves physical and psychological health. Older adults who participate in a variety of social and recreational opportunities benefit from the social connections and interactions that are fundamental to their well-being.
Benefits to Communities
Parks have long been recognized as key contributors to the aesthetic and physical quality of neighborhoods. Today, we realize that parks are more than recreation and visual assets to communities; they are valuable contributors to larger community policy objectives, such as public health, youth development, job opportunities, social and cultural exchange, and community building.
At the community level parks play a special role, they have something to offer everyone from young children and teens, to families, adults and the elderly; their presence can also be a cohesive force. They are more than places to recreate and relate to nature; parks can also offer a multitude of opportunities to engage in arts and music. A park can be a community focal point, a symbol of its vitality and character, adding to its overall health, well-being and quality of life.
Benefits to the Economy
Across the country communities are learning that conserving community green infrastructure - lands for parks, trails and other public open spaces - is not an expense, but an investment that produces important economic benefits.
Research verifies what we intuitively know about the value of parks and related open spaces: they reduce energy use and storm water runoff, increase the value of neighboring property, and improve academic performance among teens. Studies have also shown that crime is lower in the neighborhoods where parks exist and visits to hospitals and emergency rooms are reduced when kids are given a safe alternative to playing in streets and parking lots. The availability of recreation opportunities and park amenities is an important quality-of-life factor for businesses choosing where to locate and for individuals choosing a place to live.
Benefits to the Environment
Community green infrastructure - parks, community gardens, greenways and other types of public open spaces also benefit the environment. Whether green infrastructure lands are in ball fields, trails, trees, public open space, or golf courses they are on the job 24 hours every day serving critical environmental functions that contribute to many of life's essentials - making water clean and safe for drinking, cleaning the air and returning oxygen to the atmosphere, and providing habitat for wildlife, biodiversity and ecological integrity. In fact, conserving land for people where they live, work and play is often the most cost efficient and effective way to achieving a host of environmental health and related public policy objectives.
Protecting our Parks
Park and recreation agencies throughout the country are being acutely challenged by our economic situation. In the past, we've been known for being resourceful, creative and competent. Now isn't the time to change our image! While we can't provide miracles to overcome budget deficits, we can adjust, identify and communicate the importance of parks and recreation in creating community through people, parks and programs.
The Need For An Action Plan
The demand for an action plan has increased, as budget cuts have accelerated the loss of programs and services in many park and recreation departments. An action plan can help park and recreation agencies position themselves as vital components in their communities. An action plan can also be an important tool in making sure policy makers and the public understands the role of parks and recreation in creating community.
Park and recreation professionals have dramatically changed how they do business and how they position their profession to be at the table when critical issues are framed and decisions are made this includes the use of:
* Commercial and for-profit organizations that provide the public with products and services.
* Natural resource agencies that provide stewardship for our cherished lands and waters.
* Therapeutic recreation agencies that provide health care services.
* Community colleges and universities that prepare future professionals.
* Adult education providers that offer lifelong learning opportunities.
* Park professionals, who preserve the natural environment, enhance safety and protect our valuable resource investment.
* Special districts and local recreation agencies that provide parks and recreation opportunities to local residents.
Let’s
face it; our parks are still considered a luxury. They are normally the first
thing that gets their funding cut in times of economic downturn, so it is
beneficial to the community to not directly tie their funding to tax revenues
or government programs so when the economy goes south so does the tax revenue.
Insulating our parks from economic downturns should be an important measure considered by every municipality. In times of distress parks need to look their best to attract new homeowners and businesses to the area and your government can’t do that if it can’t afford to mow the grass.
There are a number of different ways to insulate the parks from an economic downturn and that is to use less taxpayer money for their operation.
There are numerous ways to accomplish this and a few are laid out here in this multi part multi park proposal. The goal of this proposal is to enhance and rehabilitate badly neglected parks whilst reducing taxpayer funds needed to support the parks.
Identifying the Shortcomings of our Parks
Many of our parks are already beautifully kept and are functional so we wish to identify the ones that need some work.We have identified these parks as Lions Park, Central Park, Columbus Park, Huron Park, and to a lesser extent Shoreline Park.
When taking into account public sentiment and plain old common sense you can see the parks are lacking in:
· Being utilized
· They are cut up into smaller unusable sections by frequently traveled roads.
· Lacking in parking (especially off street diagonal parking).
· They are poorly lit and unsafe to use after dark due to crime.
· The lack of adequate restroom facilities
· The lack of Shelter houses, grills, and picnic tables as well as a shortage of trash cans.
· Recreational equipment and fields are substandard.
· Flowers, trees, shrubs, and turf in these parks are not consistent with parks located downtown adjacent to Washington street.
· Lacking in fencing to keep children and pets from running into heavily traveled streets.
· Lacking in security cameras to deter crime.
· Lack of public phones available in case of emergencies.
· Lack of concession stands and similar amenities.
· Lacking in any form of modern Wifi connection.
· Lacking in enough playground equipment.
· More pet facilities wanted.
· Sand volleyball courts wanted
· Water fountains wanted to drown out traffic noise.
· Concert and show facilities wanted.
· Lacking in having utility lines buried.
