Document text
57 °F Forecast | Road Cams Sunday, September 19, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Rogue Valley's Finest EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend August 30, 2004 Neighbors unnerved by park chaos By BUFFY POLLOCK for the Mail Tribune JACKSONVILLE — Dozens of screaming children, trash and parallel-parked cars at Doc Griffin Park have begun to frazzle the nerves of some neighbors. The number of park visitors increased markedly after the city constructed a $60,000, 20-by-40-foot water spray area last fall, prompting complaints from neighbors, said City Administrator Paul Wyntergreen. "There seem to be concerns related to the fact the park is too successful, that kids make noise when they have fun," Wyntergreen said. "Parking is an issue as well." Ongoing concerns by neighbors, followed by a letter from property owner Lyn Dealey, prompted the city to schedule a Parks Committee hearing at 7 p.m. Sept. 8 at the Jacksonville branch library. Dealey was unavailable for comment on Friday. But in a letter she submitted last month to City Hall, she wrote: "Myself, along with other area residents, would like to make a presentation before City Council. � We need to address noise, hours, parking, safety, etc." Advertisement Neighbors closest to the park, bordered by East Pine Street and South Fourth and Fifth streets, echoed Dealey’s concerns Friday. Janis Nelson, who has lived in her Pine Street home for two decades, said noise levels at the park had rendered her relaxing outdoor patio off-limits during daylight hours. "For myself, it’s the constant screaming. I love children. I work with children. That’s not the issue," Nelson said. "And the other biggie is that they never told us they were putting it in. When neighbors put something in or do something to their home, we get something in the mail letting us know. � With this there was nothing." Nelson said she was frustrated that although the city advertises the water play area as open Memorial Day through Labor Day, it stayed open through October last year and opened earlier in May this year because of the warm weather. Medford moms Kristi Nelson and Lorrie Penn, pushing their daughters on swings Friday after playing in the water, were disappointed to learn that neighbors were bothered by the park’s popularity. "Um, hello, it’s a park," said Nelson. "This is actually the only park we’ve made it a point to come to for the atmosphere, the water and the nice play structure," added Penn. "That’d be a shame to see them try to close it. The only other water park I know of is in Ashland. This gives the kids something to do when it’s hot. We use it all the time." Both Nelson and Penn said they could understand how noise levels could become annoying when large groups, such as entire preschools, are bused in, but added neighbors had used not-so-neighborly tactics with typical park users. "We’ve had sprinklers turned on our cars before," said Nelson. Medford parent Kristina Johnson, who plans to move to Jacksonville in coming months, held her 3-year-old daughter’s birthday party at the park on Friday — the second she and her family have held at the park. "I could see them making park hours but I don’t think that (closing the park or limiting access) would be a good idea for the city," she said. "We plan to move here and this is one of the attractions to move here." While the park officially closes at the end of September (depending on weather), Wyntergreen said the Parks Committee would address neighbors’ concerns and make a recommendation to City Council. "We’re not going to just close it," he said. "We’ll take input about neighbors’ concerns and, if the concerns are big enough, the committee would forward with some sort of recommendation to the council," he said. "The city has no take on it as of yet, other than we feel the park is very successful and we’re happy about that." One neighbor, who declined to give her name, said the only solution to escape the constant screaming, trash and "naked babies running around" seemed to be selling her home. "It’s the screaming. It’s noisy when you put water and kids together. The park was an asset when I bought (a home) here. It isn’t now," she said. "You don’t want to come across like some monster that hates kids. I have kids and I’m not against kids. I think my main complaint is that I wish the city had asked the neighbors before they put it in." Buffy Pollock is a free-lance writer living in Medford. E-mail her at [email protected]. Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities