For those of you interested in the “Community School Project” (i.e., the plan to put a replacement school for the Woodruff attendance area on a corner of Glen Oak Park), tonight’s the night to express your opinion to the Peoria Park Board. They will be meeting at Lincoln Middle School, 700 Mary St. (next to Woodruff), at 6:00 p.m.
One question that I hope comes up is, “How does this partnership help fulfill the Park District’s mission statement?” That mission statement is, “To enrich life in our community through stewardship of the environment and through provision of quality recreation and leisure opportunities.” So, how exactly does putting a school on a corner of the park constitute “stewardship of the environment”? What “quality recreation” is being provided by the school? What “leisure opportunities”?
The park district wants to become the #1 provider of recreation and leisure opportunities in Peoria, to the detrement of others wanting to do the same (RiverPlex as an example). The park district has wrapped up the riverfront programming so tight that it’s virtually impossible for anyone to put on a quality event there because of the cost, unless you are Jay Goldberg who has paid his dues with riverfront events and doesn’t have to worry about the cost of a start up event. The park district is doing the role of private promoters on the riverfront, without apprently worrying about whether their events make a buck or not, something private promoters don’t have the luxury of doing. They can take a chance on a musical group or some other event and just cover any losses with their major events. Undoubtedly those on the park board who support this plan want to expand the concept to provide leisure and recreational programming within the school, and its location near the park will simply make that more inviting.
Justanobserver,
Well said. If the City Council ever gets to discuss the Park District contract for RiverFront programming, your points regarding the Park District will be noted and the Park District continually being handed this contract without consideration of alternatives will be mine.