| Author |
Message |
    
Townie
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 13, 2001 - 5:18 pm: |     |
Truth,
I hope you won't make the 4th of July too much of a test in your own mind about the future of Maplewood and attitudes of people in parts west. I live west of Valley and I happen to dislike both fireworks and circuses, so matter where they are, I won't be there! I'm also generally not a fan of walking around in the sun on hot days -- you get the picture, I'm sure. A definite no-show. But I regularly get my car serviced on Springfield Ave. and buy wallpaper and Italian food there, and eat in the eateries. I'd hang out more often on Springfield if it had some interesting second-hand shops, more ethnic food stores, some arts spaces and a more visible police presence.
Others surely know better than me, but my impression is that 4th of July in Memorial Park is a unique Maplewood tradition, and you can break the magic if you break with tradition. You might think of appropriating another holiday and giving it it's own magic: Like a homemade ice cream and kite day for Memorial Day, or a hot'n'spicy cook-off on Labor Day -- just tossing off ideas here. Strawberry sale. Outdoor book sale. An outdoor arts festival, with fine art displays and all-day long performances w/dancing. Or bring back a ferris wheel and a merry go round and recall the magic of Olympic Park.
kathleen |
Djun
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 13, 2001 - 5:22 pm: | |
It would be a sad day if the fireworks weren't in Memorial Park. |
Cfa
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 13, 2001 - 5:50 pm: | |
Truth...forgive my wording. Instead of using "introduce" I should have used "showcase." Please accept my apology. |
Ffof
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 13, 2001 - 5:52 pm: | |
There is an art fair at DeHart, I forget who sponsors it but is well attended and lots of fun. Thetruth, have you ever been to this? Also, Memorial Park is exactly in the center of Maplewood. It's as far from streets like Woodhill Drive (above Wyoming) as it is from Boyden avenue (by the pool). And for all the reasons others mentioned above, is ideal for the Circus, fireworks and all the other related activities! |
Lseltzer
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 13, 2001 - 6:19 pm: | |
New, cool activities at DeHart and elsewhere in that part of town would be great additions to the festivities. I don't think we need to mess with the Memorial Park activities to bring the others into the celebration.
I like the kite idea. That would work at either Maplecrest or Dehart, depending on whether there's baseball being played. |
Joancrystal
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 13, 2001 - 7:28 pm: | |
I favor the development of new programs and the expansion of existing ones for Maplecrest Park, DeHart Park, and other locations in and around Hilton, rather than trying to adapt a successful celebration to a new set of locations which are less suitable.
DeHart Park already has an annual celebration: Arts in the Park which is a wonderful celebration of the arts for our town's children -- all of them! The proximity of the DeHart Center provides needed facilities that are not available in the town's other parks. This celebration could be expanded to an entire weekend and include activities for art lovers of all ages. Some additional activities might include an outdoor art show and craft sale, craft demonstrations, contests, performances by local talent, etc.
With the loss of the farmer's market and the pet adoption days which used to be held in Maplecrest Park, I don't believe that there are any regularly scheduled festivities held there now. How about starting something new like a diversity day which would celebrate our township's many wonderful ethnic cultures and customs? it could be held in the early Spring when the weather is usually good and it would not conflict with any existing celebrations.
Maplewood currently holds its Memorial Day Celebration in front of town hall by Memorial Park. Why not hold a town celebration on Veteran's Day where the town's veteran's groups hold their's around the flag pole at the VFW Post on Marie Place, which is a block from Springfield Avenue?
If you want to encourage more people to get to know the attractions of the Hilton area, why not create a series of walking tours designed to acquaint people throughout the town and elsewhere with the rich history of Hilton. These could be held throughout the year. |
Townie
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 13, 2001 - 7:50 pm: | |
My feeling is:
Feed them and they will come.
If whatever activities are decided upon the events also include copious offerings of the foods and drinks of many cultures, and the chance to hang out in the park after nightfall on a warm summer night and dance or watch a movie, then the crowds will come. Why not think about Labor Day (or the weekend after) and have a Last of the Summer Bash? |
Thetruth07040
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 13, 2001 - 8:30 pm: | |
I surrender. |
Joancrystal
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 13, 2001 - 8:55 pm: | |
How about starting a bicycle tour de Maplewood? Participants could start and end at any one of numerous stations throughout town - no staging area or parking needed. Equal access for everyone since the complete route would wind through the entire town. Those wishing to compete could be issued cards which would get time stamped at each station (shortest total time in category wins). Those just seeking a day of fresh air and exercise could ride any part of the course they liked. A bicycle safety clinic and an obstacle course could be set up for the younger set. Earth Day would be perfect. Think of all the gas fumes we would save.
This idea should even please thetruth07040 since Earth Day celebrations now are centered on cleaning the river which runs through MEMORIAL PARK. |
Townie
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 13, 2001 - 9:33 pm: | |
Tour de Maplewood is a great idea. Earth Day would be nice. Bonus points for people who bike all the way up to the steps to the reservation! (Or even just halfway up Hickory -- puff, puff, gasp :-/) |
Harold
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 13, 2001 - 9:52 pm: | |
If people can enjoy First Night [in cold weather] and travel from place to place, certainly they can walk the short distance between the two parks in the nice July weather.
Great idea, keep us informed about the response from the Township Committee. |
Mlj
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 13, 2001 - 10:00 pm: | |
Where is Dehart Park? Is it adjacent to Maplecrest Park? (I know, duh, huge duh) |
Octofoil
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 13, 2001 - 10:10 pm: | |
Joancrystal,
Thats a really nice idea! Participation for all ages, categories for family groups biking together, in addition to individuals, maybe? Maybe all wind up at the same park for a burger and dogs bash and awards ceremony? (I can see it now, huffing and puffing with my pacemaker going like crazy!)
Mlj,
DeHart is about two fairly short blocks on the opposite side of Springfield from Maplecrest. When traveling east on Springfield, take a left at the light by Wyman Ford and go straight ahead and you can't miss the park. |
Thetruth07040
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 13, 2001 - 11:52 pm: | |
Why don't we just hold a really nice turtle race in Dehart and then a little cookout in my back yard. That oughta straighten things right out!
Where is Dehart? It's just across the moat and through the mine field. Bring provisions and hold your child's hand tightly when crossing the ever treacherous Springfield Ave. |
Dytunck
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 14, 2001 - 12:57 am: | |
Thetruth,
That was the funniest post I have read in a long time.
Dytunck |
Goodolddays
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 14, 2001 - 1:16 am: | |
Sitting in silence, scrolling down & reading all the different ideas, comments and reflections found in the above entries, I thought, what a wonderful thing is happening. Some ideas had promise, some were alittle like a pie in the sky..however, it showed some serious thought by good people. But then the mood changed and the idea that the east side of town is still an unknown wilderness came up loud and extremely clear..The questions that took 1st prize: WHERE IS DEHART PARK? IS IT ADJACENT TO MAPLECREST PARK? How sad, how very very sad.
Thetruth07040..I'm with you....SURRENDER. |
Townie
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 14, 2001 - 8:39 am: | |
The truth?
The truth is, I think, that maybe thetruth has an idea in his head that he just doesn't want to let go of -- not the 4th of July in DeHart or Maplecrest, but that people who don't live in his neighborhood hate or are afraid of his neighborhood or won't come there. That isn't the truth! Most of my neighbors in the Jefferson area have lived in Maplewood for many years and know its history, have friends in all parts of town, use the swimming pool, and were very upset when people began talking during the reval of an east and west side of town. If events were staged in DeHart and Maplecrest, most of us would come. But suddenly moving the 4th of July celebration from Memorial Park honestly doesn't strike some people as a good idea. That's all.
It only was one poster who asked where DeHart is. How many people in Maplewood have been to Grasmere Park? |
John
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 14, 2001 - 9:12 am: | |
Truth, Goodolddays,
Don't surrender. You had a brilliant idea that has fostered many to come up with other great ideas. You should be proud that this is happening. You sparked the discussion. If it results in any major event taking place in the frame of your proposal that is a bonus. Keep going with this and something may eventually develop that is a positive to our community. By the way, if you post a date for the cookout in your back yard you may be surprised at how many people will show up. I hope Townie is not right in interpreting your comments, but I can't help seeing some of that in most answers you are giving. |
Njjoseph
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 14, 2001 - 9:23 am: | |
Goodolddays, how sad your comment is about how sad someone's question about DeHart. I have been in Maplewood for 6 months, and know where Memorial and Maplecrest parks are. Where is DeHart? It IS a legitimate question. If I don't know where it is, I can't attend the activities there. Remember, not all of us were even alive when you moved to Maplewood.
Townie: where is Grasmere? |
Nilmiester
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 14, 2001 - 9:30 am: | |
And the next question will be "who is Grasmere?" |
|