WIUM Local
(2008-04-15)
Spring Lake Park is one of the sites owned by the city and maintained by the park district.
Under a decade-old agreement, the city owns Compton, Spring Lake and Glenwood Parks plus Glenwood Pool. The sites are maintained by the park district.
The deal expires at the end of the year, but just two meetings have been held to work on a new deal. The park district says the second meeting lasted just five minutes.
Park Board President Lois Nickson says she's "very disappointed" with the city and feels the park district is being ignored.
Parks Commissioner Jim Bloom concurs. He says the city has not responded to phone calls or letters.
Bloom says if no action is taken, the city will own and operate those parks. Bloom says if that's the city's goal, it should be forthright and say so.
But Third Ward Alderman Lou Gilbert says he's willing to meet any time with the park district. Gilbert says it's crucial for the two entities to work together.
Gilbert also says it's not set in stone that the city will take over the parks. He says that was simply a possibility brought up during negotiations.
The Macomb Park Board discussed the matter during its April 15 meeting. You can listen to that discussion by clicking on the audio button.
Additional information:
*Bloom says the park district "absolutely" will be forced to cut jobs if it no longer maintains those parks.
*The park district's other properties include Everly, Downing, Lakeview and Patton Parks plus the 80-acre site on University Drive. © Copyright 2010, wium
