43 replies to this topic

[parklady]

Dave - I agree with the majority of your statements regarding the park resources being for ALL of the city and the shortage of available resources. However, I also believe that people "whine", as you call it, when they feel their voice is not heard or even solicited. It is very easy for those making decisions to assume that there will be no consensus, so why not impose the decision that they determine best. And yes, I am appreciative and aware of the process. Do I feel that all decisions should be in the public's hands? No. But from my experience on this type of development, any outward attempt to work with stakeholders (those nearby) would do a lot to get people working towards a common ground and understanding of the situation and the "whining" usually lessens.

[dave]

There will be a long planning process in which people can have their voices heard. It's coming soon.

Nisenan Park was originally intended to have more active elements but will have to be scale down due to fiscal constraints.

I believe Nisenan is planned to have lights on a ball field. I'm not sure how long lights can stay on at Lembi, but Mann Park lights are off automatically at 9 pm. I live next to it and have no problems with it.

Everyone who bought a home near the park should have signed an acknowledgement that the park is planned for lights.

The vast majority of the park will be left as it is.

[parklady]

Dave - Some of this planning process with community input (perhaps a residents' task force) should be extended to Livermore Park. The residents of Willow Springs and the surrounding developments have had absolutely no say in the developments there. Football season is a veritable nightmare for this neighborhood - no not the sport and the individual games and practices, but the large carnival events they hold all day there. Nor does there appear to be set hours for this park. There's been games starting at 10:00 pm and people showing up at 11:30 pm to paint the field with full lights on into the back and front yards of the homes. You literally need block outs on all your windows or you would never sleep. And forget about taking a nap or having a child sleep during one of the events with the loud speakers. Absolutely no courtesies extended to the neighorhoods surrouding this park in very close proxmity. Does not make for a happy relationship with the league or the parks dept.

[dave]

I will look into it.

[jfitzoz]

EMAIL THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER WITH YOUR CONCERNS AT :

Parks & Recreation
City of Folsom Parks and Recreation Department
Will Kempton - Assistant City Manager
50 Natoma Street, Folsom, CA 95630
Phone: (916) 355-7285 Fax: (916) 351-5931
E-mail: prdept@folsom.ca.us

Folsom Parks and Recreation Department provides and maintains a full range of recreational activities and park facilities for the community. Tots to seniors can find an array of classes including cultural arts, culinary arts, sports, fitness, and leisure activities available throughout the year. Our Aquatic Center is open year-round and features lifeguard courses along with swim lessons, specialty camps, and more. Our Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary is an excellent place to introduce your youngsters to our wild neighbors, celebrate a special birthday, or visit the zoo gift shop. Skaters and skateboarders can enjoy after school activities at the new Cummings Family Park. All classes and activities are published in our Activity Guide and are also currently available on-line.

Mission Statement


The Parks and Recreation Department is committed to establishing and maintaining facilities, parks and services that enhance the quality of life for all ages, cultural origins, and abilities. As stewards of the public trust, it is the department's purpose to reflect the changing human service needs of our community.

Comments or suggestions regarding the Parks and Recreation Department's web page may be directed to Susanne Linnane, slinnane@folsom.ca.us


[B]

[erfamof4]

I live in Village 39 (Centex) right next to the proposed park site and I DID my homework before we bought. We went to the City park & recs and asked to see a copy of the proposed park (of course they'll blow you off if you just call, but making a physical apperarnce in their office forces them to provide answers). Of course it was only a rough draft (and they told us this) but it did show the preliminary intended locations for the lighted fields, b-ball courts, parking lot, etc. It was for this reason that we opted not to buy on the open space (more of a privacy issue for us than being opposed to the park).

You have to remember that the sales agents selling homes are going to tell you what you want to hear. It's not their responsibility to inform you of the exact plans and layout of the park. From the plans I did see, the area to the right (along Golf Links) WILL be kept natural with hiking trails, etc. So there is no lie there, nor are you being deceived.

I do agree that they should probably redo their study and gain resident feedback now that more development has occurred. But I don't propose they should cancel the park plans simply because some residents didn't do their research and want to maintain their privacy.

Sorry, off my now.

[dave]

Thanks erfam. My sentiments exactly. That is a park that will belong to all of Folsom's residents. We need to keep adding ballfields as more people move in.

Adding lights to them is like getting a second field for very little extra cost. Besides, in the winter ballfields are almost useless when it is already dark by 5 or 6. Lights actually add a little life to a neighborhood. I live next to Mann Park. They are not on all the time, all night.

Besides, a much bigger injustice to the hillside oaks is coming soon when the next neighborhood is built uphill from the parksite. It's gonna get ugly, folks.

Parklady: I'll post my Livermore Park research on that neighborhood forum.

[dave]

I mean Willow Springs.

[Gregory Carson19]

hi all,
i am gregory carson and i am, what appears to be, the only person against the building of this park. the main reson is that i often seek haven in the area to induldge myself in some illegal activities, if you know what i mean.
stop the building!
Gregory Carson

[apeman45]

My back fence backs up to Mcfarland park and my bedroom overlooks the park. The baseball field has lights. I love it. Sometimes I'm awaken by the soccer or baseball games that start at 8am. Sweet music to me to hear kids playing or the sound of a baseball meeting an aluminum bat.

Some neighbors that lived here before the park was built voiced their concern over partying teens or drug dealing. I have NEVER seen a hint of either. I often walk my dogs around 11pm in the park and it is as quiet as can be. Most of the recreational sports users come to the games and then head for home leaving this beautiful park to be enjoyed by those who live nearby and walk there to enjoy it. After 10:00 it is extremely quiet here at night. I think the park adds a great deal of value to my home and it has been reflected in the higher reslae values in my neighborhood. Must be people with kids driving up those prices.

I hear far more noise from my neighbors than I do from the park. Take a look at the lot sizes and the proximity of the houses to each other. You shouldn't be here if privacy and total silence is what you seek. What I like about Folsom is the parks, trails and family environment and good schools for my kid to enjoy.

Sure it's smart to check out the plans of the new park and tweak any problems that may exist but be sure to do it early in the process rather than complaining about it after. I must admit the size of the parking lots required in our parks bothers me a little. We have all these great bike trails yet everyone drives 2 blocks to the park. I would love to see more kids out on their bikes.

[Terry]

QUOTE (Gregory Carson19 @ Apr 15 2004, 01:18 PM)

hi all, i am gregory carson and i am, what appears to be, the only person against the building of this park. the main reson is that i often seek haven in the area to induldge myself in some illegal activities, if you know what i mean. stop the building! Gregory Carson

You might want to join the other pot smokers at Briggs Park up on the hill. Quite a little group there most evenings until the cops roust them out.

[Farley]

QUOTE (dave @ Mar 19 2004, 09:15 PM)

Lights actually add a little life to a neighborhood. I live next to Mann Park. They are not on all the time, all night.

Then you must live in the Bungalows....lights not a problem....or Woodbridge gated community. Lights were a huge problem. That is why in the mid- 1990's the city had to plant the long row of redwoods along the Woodbridge community wall to block the lights and the noise. They also had to install a huge net over the ball field to keep the baseballs from going into the neighbors yards.

[apeman45]

Nah, I live in the Centex homes near Empire Oaks. I like the free baseballs. I scout the bushes behind my back fence and am very popular with my nephews because of all the free baseballs I supply them. My neighbors across the street back up to the golf course and they "enjoy" the free golf balls. I lkike baseballs better. I'm a park, family guy so it works well for me. I could see someone else not liking it as much.

[parklady]

Dave - Respectfully, I must disagree. That is where I have differed with you. I believe that when people complain, they deserve to be listened to. I never consider it whining. I may not always agree or like to have my ears exposed to all the chatter at times, but I do believe that when people take the time to express concerns that they are genuine in their intent. My job is to listen to where they are coming from, their values and vantagepoint and try to explain what I can and cannot do for them. In the case of parks, citizens from numerous communites have this very same complaint with the latest trends in new development. What is often promised to the communities as "open space" is not really open space but fulfilled through mega parks or sportplexes in the middle of residential neighborhoods with never near adequate parking, and major impacts to the neighborhood. These are not your typical neighbhorhood parks. Also the neighorhorhoods suffer for the fact that school districts don't want these fields and responsibilities on their grounds, cities don't want to take up commercial areas for them and they can use the land to fulfill their "quota" of open space for the subdivision. By far, Folsom has an incredible mega abundance of parks for its population compared to most cities of the same size. Not a bad thing to have these parks, just how they are planned and cited.

[parklady]

Dave - Sorry, I may have accidentally responded to an old post of yours, but you know my feelings on this topic. Parks are for all, but not everyone has to deal with their effects. That's why there should be care and caution in citing them. Lights can extend the usage, but if they're shining right into someone's back yard, then the park or field hasn't been properly cited to begin with. Same if people can never park in front of their own houses or have guests over. People come home to rest, relax and have those that they love around them, not hear noise, deal with lights until all hours of the night and tell their guests or other family members to park five blocks away and walk to your house There needs to be a reasonable schedule and respect for people's homes as well. IMO sportplexes are better situated in commercial areas. You see them often off the freeways, etc. for easy access and less impacts of lights and noise to neighborhoods.