These are Better Spots for the Ludington Splash Pad

[XLFD]

I am going to be introducing a lot of ideas here regarding my mostly-objective research regarding the best location in Ludington to locate a 40' X 70' oval splash pad.  I am going to look at the important variables under consideration and issue findings that you may not totally agree with, but you should consider.  My inspiration for this research is from former Ludington Mayor Kaye Holman in a small speech she gave at the end of the last city council meeting, where she said at the 1:10:40 mark:

"We don't have an alternative that is as appropriate (as Copeyon Park).  I know that two weeks ago I said I don't want it down there either.  But you know what?  I don't know where else to put it.  That's an appropriate spot, and even though I have some negativity as I'm down at the yacht club every day, and I see things different than a lot of you do, because I'm there every single day.  I still don't know where else I would put it, and I think you're doing the best you can do.  Let's go with what we got.

Until somebody comes up with a 'this is a better spot', I think we have to go with what we got, and I think we are wasting a lot of time on this."

She almost sounds as if we are trying to find a proper place to put a nuclear waste site with her dejected fatalism, but this isn't a NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard), it's a place for fun.  And even though I am dead-set against a splash pad at Copeyon Park, I would welcome it as my neighbor if it were plausible, yet listen respectfully to my other neighbors when it came before the Planning Commission for approval (unlike this ever did).

So I accepted the mayor's informal challenge early the following morning, I used Google maps and my knowledge of Ludington to explore the realm of possibilities in a way I hadn't seen done yet (and I have read the half dozen committee meeting notes where the splash pad notion came up for discussion).  I then walked over six miles to do field research on each plausible site, looking at several variables.

First, a brief history of how Copeyon Park was selected by these groups of councilors acting outside of the Open Meetings Act, conferring with a Splash Pad Committee (SPC) composed of some city officials, but acting far outside of public accountability.

Early informal discussions considered a splash pad in City Park at around the time the Rotary Club made improvements to that park, but it wasn't made part of the plan.  On 4-29-16, the council's Building & Licensing Committee (B&LC) met with the SPC to discuss purchasing and building a splash pad at the old Slaggert property (the empty lot across the street and to the east of the Ludington Library).  They decided against it, because it's a terrible spot.

They met again on 5-26-16, and discussed Waterfront Park and dismissed it due to water and sewer line availability.  Splash Pad Committee member (and the City's Community Development Director) Heather Tykoski offered the James Street Plaza as an alternative.  Former Councilor Krauch felt strongly against that and suggested Copeyon Park to 'revitalize' the area-- Councilor Winczewski said it was the 'perfect' location, the B&LC approved the location, and there really has been no alternative under consideration since. 

Let's take a look at the strengths and limitations of Copeyon Park and where they plan on putting the splash pad (represented by a drawn to scale blue oval).

Access into the park is poor, the entrance is not ADA compliant due to the steep gradient, the safety coming in and out of the park is tenuous whether you are a motorist, a bicyclist or a pedestrian.  There is the geese issues that linger even with measures meant to deter them.  The location is far away from the meager restrooms, there is no changing area and not a lot of fixtures to accommodate a large crowd.  There is no good pedestrian route between the pad and the restroom, and I have a hard time seeing any without taking away parking.  As noted in committee meetings, there will be a bit of plumbing needed for supply and waste water.  A lot of live trees were cut down to open up a spot where the pad would receive sunlight.

Is this the only spot around Ludington that has splash pad capability and the least amount of drawbacks?  Hardly; the reason that our city officials overlooked them is that they only saw the inside of the box.  Typical.  The splash pad will only function between Memorial Day and Labor Day, what else occurs during that time?  Summer break for Ludington schools. 

There will be a lot of school property not being used for school functions during the summer.  Some of these areas provide the best places for a splash pad since parking, access, water supply, restroom/changing facilities, etc. already in place are objectively superior to what Copeyon Park has to offer. 

Can the City of Ludington and the LASD come to terms over the use of the property and sharing responsibilities?  They already do that with the local recreation programs, this will just be another proud example of how well they can work together for the public benefit.

I hereby offer the following locations, most with superior facilities as compared to Copeyon Park, all on public land, and all inside Ludington.

ORIOLE FIELD (4+ great locations)

Featuring lots of parking, two different bathrooms and concession areas, and flat terrain, Oriole Field offers a lot of value beforehand.  The best may be near the entrance, where the parents can take a little time off to play some pickleball, baseball, run a lap, etc., and still look over junior.  

 

Then either of these two locations would work out great, it might even be a good place for any of the Oriole's football teams to cool off during summer practice.

The fencing is already up around this possible splash pad area.  There may be some safety concerns during softball games, when batters are able to hit round-trippers.

Maybe you want the splash pad to have its own special area, well the northwest corner looks like it could be easily developed into a primo area, there's a hydrant nearby suggesting a water main.

All Oriole Field sites are, or can easily be made ADA-compliant, offer more and better restrooms and parking than Copeyon, and it's probable that the City can tie into the existing water and sewer lines built into this field for the restrooms and irrigation system.    

NEAR SCHOOL SITES

Two sites readily show themselves as good.  The first is just west of the Schoenherr Tennis Courts just north of the middle school.  The pad will not interfere with the youth soccer fields already present in that field, and even though it may be a distraction when they play during the summer, the coaches could promise them some time in the pad after a hard-fought match.

Going east, there's a spot near the LASD Administration Building that could be promising if the building could be used during summer as an auxiliary restroom and changing area (otherwise the Schoenherr set might suffice)

The last splash pad location on school property is what I think is the overall best, so let me delay that revelation for now, and look at another two places that I think has been overlooked on city-owned property offering more than Copeyon Park, down near the beach. 

SOUTH BEACH 

The best would be just south of the Loomis Street Boat Launch parking area in an underutilized area where sand would not be a problem-- as there's no beach nearby, just seawalls.  Lots of parking, restrooms, access.  Or you could put it up on Loomis with a little more work, and offer extra rest and changing rooms down the street at the beach's south concession stand.

OTHER SPOTS THAT ARE GOOD, BUT FALL SHORT

I looked at sites that seemed good from an aerial perspective, but fell short otherwise.  Here are some of those places:

-Waterfront Park:  There are two places that could accommodate the splash pad and not detract from the park itself and make it a kid paradise, but there is an overload concern, where parking and restrooms would suffer.  

-Dow/Oxy Park:  While a splash pad could work in several places here, there are no restrooms present and it is fairly remote.  It would likely see the fate of the original skate park and tennis courts installed nearby but gone now.

-American Legion:  A tailor-made spot is there and enough parking, however, it is on 'private' land, and the restrooms present are not currently public.  

-Municipal Marina:  Another tailor-made spot exists just a little west of the bathhouse if a tree or two is removed.  The City will have to allow the public restrooms be made available to the general public for this to work, and to cater more to them and family boaters who would enjoy a splash pad on site.

So what is the best site I looked at?  It's one that caught me by surprise, I never really gave it a thought before I did my research but it's the most ideal I could find.  About the only thing missing is a shady spot for the parents, so maybe the local concession area can rent out beach umbrellas.  

LUDINGTON SOCCER FIELD

Don't be confused by the map, there is no 'Emily Street' going through, just the street right-of-way if one existed.  The existing restroom/concession area is substantial, the parking has a lot of spaces, and Longfellow Street offers additional street-side parking (as do other bordering streets).  Fire hydrants are directly north and south of this location off the street, so water supply won't be an issue, nor should waste water be a problem due to those nearby restrooms. 

The area is flat, like soccer fields should be, making it easy to be ADA compliant and any soccer practices during the summer months can be culminated by a run through the splash pad.  Parents have bleacher seats available, but benches can be provided, and they could bring their own chairs and enjoy some of what the concessionaires may offer on hot days.  

A sizable housing complex is directly to the south that has a lot of young families therein, even more family housing complexes are coming in just to the east on Washington Street, supplementing what was already there.  Washington Woods is just across Bryant Road to the north.  There is no geese issue, no trees need to be removed, it's fenced in except for the entrance, etc.  Yet it's placed in the center of a block, far enough away from residential communities to really cause an issue for noise or nuisance.  

Viewed objectively, it is superior to Copeyon Park in every way, and I would debate Councilor Krauch on the merits and demerits of both in any forum he wishes.  Except he moved away to Missouri in the midst of his term after all of these committee meetings not conforming to the Open Meetings Act and he cannot 'show-me' where I'm wrong.  Anybody else care to?

[Freedom Seeker]

Exactly, Willy. We shouldn't be paying even $10k a year for water plus who know how much maintenance cost per year when we need lead-free goosenecks and don't even know how many. I think the higher ups knew this splashpad frill wouldn't come across well to the public so they schemed up ideas that this was a private group doing a private function and that taxpayers have no say in the done deal.

[XLFD]

Krazzz, I discounted Rotary (City) Park largely based on geometry and the need to cut down quite a few trees to accommodate a splash pad.  About the only place it would work would be in the center, as you say, but most traditionalists like the fountain that's already there that harkens back to the park's past.  

If you had a smaller, circular splash pad, less trees, and could justify to enough people of why it would be better than the existing fountain, then it might work there.

[shinblind]

Another overlooked location is the strip of land by the water tower by Oriole Field.
There is not a lot of trees, I count 4 and not a lot of nearby residents,4 again.
Plenty of close parking around the U-shaped configuration and room for an additional parking lot. Lots of room for handicap parking.
Not sure if the restrooms at Oriole Field could be utilized but it becomes a moot point as the pro-splash-pad'rs' are looking to construct a new facility.
There is also room enough to expand the project in the future to include additional water features to serve a larger age range of kids. The current design at Copeyon Park only includes features that are designed for the youngest users. This is why the committee assumes they won't need any attendant there, they are hoping older kids will consider it uncool and stay away.

[Freedom Seeker]

.. yeah, like that's going to happen!  The bigger kids will be hanging off those parts like monkeys when it's dark and no one is watching.  And the splash pad committees big investment will be needing lights, cameras, fences and locks and more police patrol.  There are so many things not counted for and the splash pad will throw some flashy do-gooder donations at it through this community fund with no real accountability and then it will fall as   a dud deal on the taxpayer to take care of.  Your idea of Oriole field is also a good one, shinblind, but it doesn't help the economic revitalization of 4th Ward.  The problem is no one asked the fouth ward their ideas either.  Do they have parking to handle all this economic revitalization?  No, all the few defunct businesses have NO parking lots, just street parking and that's only going to further congest the boaters and traffic along S. Washington.