| Author |
Message |
    
Thetruth07040
| | Posted on Monday, March 12, 2001 - 9:58 pm: |     |
I started this discussion in the "Irvington Factor" thread but I think it warrants some air of its own. Here's my proposal: Why not have the July 4th celebration on the east side of town this year? The Circus in Dehart for instance and the fireworks in Maplecrest? If this town is really not divided by Springfield Ave, then this would be a clear way to heal some wounds, show some good faith and introduce our eastern residents to the "other" side of town. Dehart has the advantage of the ballfield lights and the community center. We have plenty of parking on the streets. The firehouse is right behind Maplecrest. Considering the fact that the Springfield Ave work is SUPPOSED to begin in Spring, July 4th would be an excellent time to showcase it?
How about it Mr. Mayor? I'm not talking about some little sub-celebration. You can still have some of the festivities in Memorial...but..hold the main events here. I'm sure that there are some logistical issues but I'm equally sure that they can be overcome. |
Lseltzer
| | Posted on Monday, March 12, 2001 - 10:29 pm: | |
There's a lot more space in Memorial Park where the events are now held than in DeHart and the fields behind it, and there's also a lot more parking. Plus the current location is a very short walk to the Village; DeHart is not a very short walk to Springfield Ave. It really isn't a comparable space. |
Goodolddays
| | Posted on Monday, March 12, 2001 - 11:41 pm: | |
The truth07040..your posted message was easy to read, a workable option,really does deserve consideration and of course a reply from the powers to be. What a great way to start mending fences.
Lseltzer...you said "the current location is a very short walk to the Village". and "it really isn't a comparable space". So, pray tell, what part of Maplewood do you live in? PLEASE...GIVE US ALL A BREAK. |
Cfa
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 13, 2001 - 6:56 am: | |
What about the people coming from South Orange by train? All they need to do now is walk down the hill. How will they get to Dehart?
Why not start introducing the "east side" on a smaller scale and let's work our way up to major events. Maplewood isn't that big and 4th of July is probably the biggest event this town has. Why not put the farmer's market there? Since there is plenty of parking, I'd rather go there than the current location. |
Lseltzer
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 13, 2001 - 7:16 am: | |
I live near the Clinton School. What's the point of your question? Where do you live? |
Gerardryan
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 13, 2001 - 7:30 am: | |
Anyone from the Civic Association, which plans, staffs, and runs this event, care to chime in? |
Thetruth07040
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 13, 2001 - 7:42 am: | |
Ah..and so it begins. Let's start with Lseltzer. My suggestion was to use Dehart AND Maplecrest. Maplecrest by the way has as much space as Memorial. Next..."a short walk from the village?" Well now..why should all of us on the east side care. Dehart and Maplecrest are both a short walk from Springfield Ave. and we've been going down to Memorial for the celebration every year.
Next, cfa: What about the people coming by train from South Orange??????? Doesn't South Orange have its own 4th celebration? Should the people from another town get more consideration than those of us on the other side of OUR town??? cfa...the Farmer's Market already IS on this side of town. From your comments I can only assume that you are referring to the current South Orange Farmer's Market. "Introducing??" the east side????? We've been here for a long time. The east and west sides of Maplewood have been legally married for more than one hundred years. Don't you think it's time we started actually "sleeping" together?
|
Dytunck
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 13, 2001 - 8:55 am: | |
Thetruth,
I live near Jefferson school. I think it is a great idea for the "east side" to host the 4th of July festivities. If you build it, they will come.
Dytunck |
Octofoil
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 13, 2001 - 8:56 am: | |
Truth,
Are you sure that Maplecrest has as much space as Memorial? My memory after years of t-ball, baseball, and softball in every field in town is that Memorial is larger than Maplecrest which is larger than DeHart.
I like the idea of a Maplecrest/DeHart combination for this (see my previous posts), but lets make sure that it is physically and logistically possible before getting too far along. |
Ffof
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 13, 2001 - 8:59 am: | |
The "east" side actually had it's own zipcode in the beginning of the 20th century and wanted to separate from Maplewood. Anyone know the history there? |
John
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 13, 2001 - 9:00 am: | |
It's a great idea to have events in Dehart and Maplecrest Parks. And I like the idea of having parts of the 4th of July celebration in different parts of town. I don't know that it is feasible however. I suppose the Civic Association (I guess they are responsible for it?) would know. I always wondered who put it on.
What about having the CCR plan and execute another event to REINTRODUCE the East-Side and promote Springfield Ave. They can work with other Groups in Town and make it a big event. I also like the Farmers Market Idea. Though I must say I liked it more when it was at the top of Tuscan. I think Lseltzer was responding to your question. I saw nothing wrong with his response. And for all I know Cfa may live in S. Orange and want the convenience of the train. The point is I don't care. NOR SHOULD ANYONE. You made a very good suggestion. You should expect people to disagree with you. Where they live is irrelevant. Couldn't someone on the East-Side not want the festivities on their side of town because it would cause too much noise? Do they have more of a right to an opinion than someone on the West? Lets not say we want to heal wounds and them attack anyone who disagrees with our ideas. Just respond in kind with your own reasoning. |
Buzzsaw
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 13, 2001 - 9:07 am: | |
This is very "nanny nanny poo-poo". |
Shakespeare
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 13, 2001 - 9:18 am: | |
Thetruth07040,
You've already pointed out how bad the east side of town is, re: crime. Why would people now want to risk going there at night for the 4th? Or maybe it's not as bad as you say?...
Goodolddays,
You don't even live in Maplewood, so why ask Larry where he lives! |
Thetruth07040
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 13, 2001 - 9:30 am: | |
I understand your points, John but the pain here runs deep. For sooo very long things have been skewed toward the West side of town. I do expect disagreement. I just become frustrated when the disagreement is seemingly selfish as opposed to presenting real issues which can be addressed and perhaps resolved.
Unless I am missing something drastic here, I think that this is do-able in one form or another.
I am not terribly fond of your CCR suggestion. For this to work, it must be a real event, one which is normally attended by the whole town. If there really is no aversion by the west side to the east, they will come. A CCR sponsored event will not accomplish the objective.
I think that an event by them is a great idea..just not as a substitute for the 4th celebration. |
Thetruth07040
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 13, 2001 - 9:36 am: | |
Octofoil,
It is possible that Maplecrest is not quite as large as Memorial but considering the fact that not ALL of Memorial is used for the fireworks, I suspect that Maplecrest has enough room. Especially if we were to put the Circus in either Memorial or Dehart.
The Mayor has been kind enough to ask the Civic Association to provide their input. I think it's best if we wait to hear from them. |
Octofoil
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 13, 2001 - 11:14 am: | |
Truth,
Agreed. Some input from the Civic Assoc. would be very helpful about now.
Buzzsaw,
I give up! What in the world is "nanny nanny poo-poo"? Inquiring mindlets want to know! |
Lseltzer
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 13, 2001 - 11:40 am: | |
I really think parking is a big problem with this suggestion. I disagree with TheTruth that there is plenty of parking on the streets around these two areas. There is considerably more public parking in the area around Memorial, not to mention a train station. I thin the streets around Maplecrest and DeHart are much narrower than the streets around Memorial, so if everyone parks on the street it could be dangerous.
I also think that splitting the events between two sites that are absolutely not a trivial walk from each other will depress both venues. Do you want to schlep your little kids that far, across Boyden and Springfield?
The current location is so much better for the event that this really isn't a close decision. I'm a big fan of Springfield Ave and I shop there for lots of things, but making the 4th of July celebration less convenient for everyone doesn't help it. |
Sac
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 13, 2001 - 12:17 pm: | |
Parking has never been much fun for Memorial Park either. When we lived in the Hilton section, we parked on or above Prospect Street and walked down. When we moved to a location just about halfway between Memorial Park and Maplecrest Park, I was thrilled that we could dispense with the car entirely. No location is going to be perfect, but maybe we could capitalize on this and incorporate some kind of fun "jitney" service (maybe decorated buses or pseudo-trolley type vehicles) on that day that would move between several venues and also several parking areas (not necessarily right near the activities). Could have activities in each of the major parks plus one or more parking areas along the route. Many more people would be within walking distance of at least one stop and the ride itself could be a fun part of the day. The service would have to be frequent enough to avoid long waits and have enough capacity to deal with Circus and Fireworks exit times, but I'm sure that some transportation expert could do some figuring to determine what would be needed. Just a thought. Let's get those creative juices flowing and throw out some other ideas! |
Buzzsaw
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 13, 2001 - 12:26 pm: | |
"nanny nanny poo poo" was a phrase that was used often in FOURTH GRADE between two arguing parties. Arguments were often about who's lunch box was better. Very similar to this argument. |
Thetruth07040
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 13, 2001 - 12:34 pm: | |
The Jitney is a great idea Sac. As for parking, the streets in the area around Dehart and Maplecrest are no more narrow than those around Memorial. Memorial itself has no parking. Perhaps we could make arrangements with one or more of the businesses in the area, re Verizon, PSE&G, NJ Transit to use their lots. There is also the pool lot which is an easy walk to Maplecrest or Dehart.
I agree that parking was no picnic down at Memorial. I inevitably walked for my house. It's only uphill in one direction! Lseltzer: Why exactly would it be less convenient for EVERYBODY??? Regarding your earlier comment, Springfield Ave is 3 short blocks from Dehart and Maplecrest is ON Springfield Ave. If people were willing to walk from the pool lot or from one park to another (we could provide a mutitude of voulnteer crossing guards) they might get a chance to shop on the Ave. Store owners that desired to could stay open and reap the benefits of some added local business.
I wasn't even going to acknowledge the nanny nanny poo poo comment. |
|