Bike Racers Threaten Overall Safety In Park
Dear Editor:
Thanks
to The
Profile for writing about the
problems at Washington Park. Thanks also to the neighbors who took the time to
write to the editor. Some of us who live near the park and use it on a regular
basis know that present conditions cannot continue. Those who live near the
park, and those who come from greater distance to use it, know that things have
to change to keep the environment from becoming chaotic.
The
Profile’s article as well as
letters written to the editor highlighted problems such as insufficient
sanitation, parking difficulties, drunkenness, disorderly and rude conduct,
and, of course, the volleyball leagues. Surprisingly, the most serious problem
impacting public safety – bike racers – wasn’t mentioned. We’ve
seen numerous instances of speeding bikers almost colliding with other users.
Seniors taking their walks, people exercising dogs, moms with baby carriages
– all users are at risk from bikers refusing to reduce speed. It’s
understandable that a biker training for a race doesn’t want to slow down, but
it’s only a matter of time before we see a tragic accident. An average-size
person with his bike – 220 pounds traveling at 20 mph – would have
an impact force of about 86,000 foot pounds – enough kinetic energy to
cause serious injury, or death.
Besides anxieties about overcrowding,
sanitation, rude and dangerous conduct, etc., residents have questions about
the spending of $350,000 for relocation and refurbishing of the running path.
Since funding does not appear to be a problem, perhaps more should be done to
promote a safe, orderly park environment, including a full-time park ranger.
Lauri Dannemiller, the new Parks and Rec. manager should be given time to meet
with stakeholders – local residents, sports participants, runners,
bikers, walkers, etc., to develop comprehensive strategies for compatible use
of the valuable community asset, Washington Park.
Walter Heidenfelder
Too Much Smoke; Not Enough Action!
Dear Editor,
We are a number of East Washington
Park residents who are dramatically impacted by the wood fire smoke emitted by
the pizza ovens at Il Vicino on South Gaylord Street. We have been promised by the owner
several times that he will address the issue, but have seen no action to date.
The smoke permeates the air at all times of
the day and evening, not only at start-up as we were assured.
Neighborhood windows remain closed, backyard usage is limited, clothes
and furniture
smell like smoke and our eyes burn and water due to the smoke
irritation. And
we are worried about the health impact of breathing smoke on a regular
basis.
We have addressed our concerns to the owner,
311 at the city and anyone who will listen. Again, no action.
The owner seems willing to pay the citation rather than address abatement.
It is indeed ironic that residents of the
neighborhood and city cannot burn their fireplaces many times of the year, yet
a commercial owner can add particulates and black smoke to the air at any time
of the year, any time of the day with no significant consequence.
We are frustrated, feel unheard and disrespected. We want to support the South
Gaylord merchants to be successful, but how about supporting the neighborhood
residents? We ask the City and the owner of Il Vicino to respond publicly.
Smoked out in East
Washington Park,
Maureen Hanrahan and Peter
Bonaker
Renee Krause
Bruce Broaddus and Mark
Pippin
Jane Lawnhurst
Carol and Bill Mrzlikar
Gail Feeney-Coyle and Pat
Coyle
Il Vicino Owner Responds To Profile
(Editor’s
note: the following is in response to a query by Profile publisher Paul
Kashmann.)
Paul,
Yes, they have contacted us. We
are looking into every option to help remedy the situation.
We have called the manufacturer and they
will be getting back to us with possible options.
In 20 years and many different neighborhood
situations using these wood-fired ovens, we have never had a problem with this
issue.
The oven burns at 750 degrees, so there is very
little smoke, except when the fire is first lit in the morning. Depending on
the wind direction, there are times when you can smell the fire, similar to a
fireplace in a home.
No doubt, this is an issue and we will do
everything we can to remedy it.
Thank you for your inquiry.
Richard Post
Il Vicino Wood Oven Pizza
Alcohol At Root Of Wash Park Woes
Dear Editor:
I moved away from Washington Park
a little over a year ago, after having spent 54 years enjoying all that the
park had to offer, from ice skating and swimming in Smith Lake, to Huck Finn
Day, Show Wagon and checking out books at the Eugene Field library. Yes, that
little house at Exposition was our library. So many good
memories growing up there and taking my own children to the park. I have
photos of me as a child and my two kids in the flower
gardens. I’m trying to hold on to those memories and forget what has happened
to the park over the past several years.
The park system in Denver was planned as
free public open spaces, where the public could picnic, take long walks and
view the wildlife. City Park introduced squirrels and other wildlife to the
park for the public’s enjoyment. Now the wildlife are seen as nuisances and in
many cases abused by park users who see the park for their skating, volleyball
games and cycling as their own personal training grounds. I have watched the
cyclists timing their runs around the loop and refusing to slow down for
goslings walking across the road, for an elderly couple trying to take a walk.
I have tried to cross the inside roadway and needed a traffic light to do so
safely. Even during the influx of drug sales in the ‘70s, it was a much safer
and quieter park than it is today.
I attended a meeting a year ago with staff
of Denver Parks & Recreation (DPR) and brought up the subject of volleyball
games and alcohol use in the park. My comments were met with smug derision; I
had touched the third rail of politics, apparently. Alcohol use in the park
used to be illegal. Of course a few tried to sneak it into the park and there
were officers there to ticket those few people. Alcohol is not allowed on our
nation’s beaches because of the danger and potential disturbances it would
cause. Well???? If alcohol was once again illegal, the
crowds would simply go away.
When I served on the (Washington Park)
Master Plan committee I suggested putting in speed bumps on the loop road to
slow down the Lance Armstrong wannabes, others suggested large flowerpots
placed at various intervals. Nothing of any significance was done about the
speeders.
The powers that be in DPR are selling our
parks, issuing permits for every part of the park. Picnic areas used to be
first- come, first-served. If we wanted something to eat while in the park, we
brought our own food. Want to get married in the park? Find a spot and do it.
The problems started when WP was designated
a regional park and alcohol use was allowed. That was the beginning of the end
for what was once a local park, used by the surrounding residents. I feel sorry
for the people living across from the park; they pay higher property taxes for
the “privilege” of living across the street from the park. No longer a
privilege, property values will start to plummet and with it, revenues to the
city through property taxes.
The parks in Denver are
now being run by people who know nothing about the history of the park or its
many historic features, nor do they care. They are catering to the whims
of a select demographic, their own demographic, the
30-somethings.
Now that DPR has agreed to pay for off-duty
officers to patrol the park, guess what comes next? I said it a year ago, the
next thing that will happen is the public will be charged to park their cars in
what was meant to be a free public place. Parking meters in
the park. Get your wallets out if you plan to visit WP Amusement Park.
Linda Neely
Past board member FANS
(Friends and Neighbors of
Washington Park) and Wild Bird Information & Rehabilitation of Denver |
