Fresno Famous

Mixed feelings about Dickey Park-

I admit that I have mixed feelings aobut the renovations and building at Dickey Park-glad that the city is going to do something for the kids in this neighborhood, a little concerned about the parking (but hey, I choose to live in this neighborhood, and the parking problems come with the territory), and I am familiar with the JANA/1x1 plan of the 90's, and kinda wish that someone would pick that up again--BUT, if the city can do with Dickey what it's managed to do at the Hinton Center and other Parks facilities, then, it's a welcome change. I'm delighted that the earlier plan was scrapped, as noted in the Bee article--I suppose that my only real concern is that the neighbors in Jefferson/Lowell/south of Belmont--are IN the process for planning for the park, facilities and programming. It's not about flexing neighborhood rights, I see it more as about human dignity, and making a neighborhood park "owned" by the neighborhood. There are many, many positive aspects about living near Dickey Park, and getting a new neighbor in the Chicano Youth Center is going to be a positive experience eventually. We'll have time for public comment, and the doors of Parks and Rec, the Mayor and Councilmember Sterling are open to us. It's a small park with huge potential, located near a McDonald's and Denny's, walkable from most of the neighborhood and close to the emergency room for those playground accidents. I'm thrilled that so many people care enough to comment! I'm looking forward to the center so that I won't have far to go to volunteer!