| Author | Message | ||
     Howard Levison Citizen Username: Levisonh Post Number: 275 Registered: 1-2004  |
John, there are a number of venues within SO that could be transformed/repaired to allow for greater access to Basketball - i.e., Third Street playground (should have been a giveback as part of the Condo development). Do you know of any plans in the recreation department to expand this activity? | ||
| mrosner Citizen Username: Mrosner Post Number: 1974 Registered: 4-2002 |
Howard: Many residents (and not from the Gaslight Commons) did not want a basketball court at the park there. It was discussed as a potential location. As Pizzaz stated, Bill Johnson was very active in trying to improve the basketball program and to seek out other locations. There were meetings with many residents and with the recreation committee. Bill Johnson finally concluded with Andy Brady that we needed to try to create more opportunity to allow for indoor basketball. We also discussed converting two of the tennis courts by the pool to basketball courts but there were numerous objections to that idea too. As part of the river corridor project there has been another location that has been raised and one that will be considered and discussed. A lot of people say they would like to see more courts, but even more people do not want a basketball court too close to their home (mostly because of the noise). | ||
| Hoops Citizen Username: Hoops Post Number: 177 Registered: 10-2004 |
Hankzona - The pool of players that tryout for the teams are generally not as large as the pool that is available. I dont know all the reasons for it but town emphasis/involvement in these programs seems limited to the players that are in the programs. I do not want to paint the programs with a broad brush and I want to be fair to volunteers and administrators who work long hours for the good of the kids. I'm sorry but I feel its best not to share more then that. | ||
| Rastro Citizen Username: Rastro Post Number: 1106 Registered: 5-2004  |
Hmmm... We have a nice (soon-to-be-paved) property centrally located in town, right next to the pools. Maybe THAT could be used for a few b-ball courts? then players could go right across the street for a pizza and beer (or soda). Since the town is likely to gain possession in a few weeks anyway, why not have the A. Beifus Memorial Basketball Courts, right in downtown South Orange? btw, it's nice to be back... a week in California, then finding out that when my email provider - Woodstock - moved, he couldn't get his mail server back up kinda sucked. Oh, he sends his regards. | ||
| jayjay Citizen Username: Jayjayp Post Number: 6 Registered: 6-2005 |
Why doesn't the town condemn the Pathmark, shutter it up and post a sign that reads "basketball Courts coming soon". That should work for at least 5 years to placate the need for more courts. Plus, we'd be getting rid of an eyesore in the process. | ||
| Phenixrising Citizen Username: Phenixrising Post Number: 813 Registered: 9-2004 |
Could use improvement, but Pathmark is not that bad. jayjay, You seem to have a disfavor for the areas that have minority traffic. To MANY out-of-towners shopping at Pathmark? Whats up? | ||
| Old and Gray Citizen Username: Pastmyprime Post Number: 118 Registered: 2-2005 |
I think JayJay's post come more over as not liking out of towners...which could easily be context into "minorities"...I don't think its totally intentional. I think he is more labelling City dwellers(is that somewhat a polite way to say it). Where I grew up we were just referred to as City Trash, and those were the days when the local cops would basically "SHOW" you the way back to where you came from. | ||
| Uhuru Citizen Username: Uhuru Post Number: 99 Registered: 5-2005  |
some seton hall kids are pretty rude too...they litter everywhere...and come home from the city drunk, loud, and at 2am woop-dee-doo pathmark is fine, chill. | ||
| jayjay Citizen Username: Jayjayp Post Number: 7 Registered: 6-2005 |
I really don't think you (Phenixrising & Old&Gray) should presume what I mean. If you must know, South Orange is one of the towns with the best architectural housing stock in the state. From an aesthetic point of view, the Pathmark is an ugly cement gray box with a horribly ugly parking lot, unbefitting the beauty of most of the town, and I would love to see it torn down and replaced by something much nicer to look at. It has NOTHING to do with minorities, out of towners or anything else. So please cut it out. I didn't think this board was supposed to be a place to malign other residents. | ||
| mjc Citizen Username: Mjc Post Number: 645 Registered: 10-2004 |
Still, jayjay, even though PM is not the Ritz, and not much to look at (what on Valley St. is?), I don't want to add a half hour to my grocery shopping time by going to Millburn or WO, do you? Not to mention sending my shopping dollars to another town's tax coffers instead of SO's. If you can come up with something "much nicer to look at" that's also practical and a valuable ratable, go for it. | ||
| Uhuru Citizen Username: Uhuru Post Number: 102 Registered: 5-2005 |
We dont need sixteen arts centers and a murals... besides...that a more "industrial" area of south orange/mapwood lots of autoshops and import dealers on that road...it fits in just fine you would definately think differently if you shopped there for a long time but i guess youd rather go to the A&P since thats half a block away in maplewood where it can do no aesthetic harm to your elite "artsville" | ||
| talk-it-up Citizen Username: Talkitup Post Number: 155 Registered: 3-2004 |
The tennis courts are open to all. You pay a small fee at an arranged time (unless that has changed). My understanding is that the tennis courts were also Green Acres. The basketball courts do notseem to have had the same attention or "overseeing" by the rec dept as the tennis courts. | ||
| jayjay Citizen Username: Jayjayp Post Number: 8 Registered: 6-2005 |
Uhuru, what are you talking about? I am not suggesting more arts centers. Just some shopping stores that care enough about the town and its residents that they enhance it rather than spoil it. As far as I am concerned, the A&P is no better. If that is elitism, so be it. I will spend my dollars where the merchants care enough to provide a pleasant shopping experience. I would rather it be in town, but I will not support those who don't. Feels like this should be a thread all its own, as it has nothing to do with the basketball issue. See you on another thread! | ||
| Phenixrising Citizen Username: Phenixrising Post Number: 815 Registered: 9-2004 |
If that is elitism, so be it. I will spend my dollars where the merchants care enough to provide a pleasant shopping experience. I'm sure Shorts Hills & Millburn will welcome you with open arms jayjay. From an aesthetic point of view, the Pathmark is an ugly cement gray box with a horribly ugly parking lot, unbefitting the beauty of most of the town, You want to talk aesthetics? As mcj & uhuru pointed out, its located on Valley street along with all the auto repair shops and Laundermats, longtime pizzerias, a boarded up gas station,Enterprise rent-a-car. And how many vacant buildings? Therefore, I guess we should get rid of all of that too! Just tear down Valley Street and rebuild. How much will the state allot for that? How much more will our property taxes go up to appease your so-called aesthetics? Pathmark is located in below Valley St. street level. Its not as obvious as the A&P. Old & Gray, I guess you were right, judging from jayjay's latest post.  | ||
| jayjay Citizen Username: Jayjayp Post Number: 10 Registered: 6-2005 |
Phenixrising- I agree that most of Valley Street is singularly uinattractive, but when has striving for aesthetic improvement become a negative. Is it better to let things deteriorate because there are some awful looking businesses in town. I don't get it. Maybe it would suit you if all the the businesses looked like Dart Electric Repair by Columbia. That's on Valley Street. Should that set the standard? I will keep fighting to improve the town, not let it go the way of the lowest common denominator. | ||
| Phenixrising Citizen Username: Phenixrising Post Number: 816 Registered: 9-2004 |
jayjay I'm sure the the owners of those establishments would love you! They've been in town as long as I can remember (dating 12 years now). Are you going to fund raise for them for new facades? Are you going to advocate some fancy stores where the average Joe cannot afford? I believe in "cleaning-up" the Ave. (perhaps some landscaping, new storefront design), but I don't believe in driving longtime businesses out of town for aesthetic purposes. | ||
| peteglider Citizen Username: Peteglider Post Number: 1185 Registered: 8-2002 |
The Pathmark, that god awful office building across the street from the town hall, the light green building across from the train station, etc. etc -- some horrble aesthetics in downtown SO. (and the grey painted new photo store by Spiota Park, with the glaring signs is a recent example of a hideous and incongruous store front) That said, the Washington Mutual storefront is one of the best redone stores -- not only does it fit the style of the building, it looks like its always belonged there. THAT should be an example for other building owners and the planning board in terms of approving new building plans. But being completely pragmatic -- while I would love to see more store front renovations - I doubt that the building owners or business owners are too keen on taking this on. So -- what IS up with Town Hall Deli --?? Pete | ||
| GlassJoe Citizen Username: Glass_joe Post Number: 5 Registered: 6-2005  |
I heard Town Hall Deli is looking for a new owner. Don't know how valid the source was. It would be nice if someone opened a deli here. | ||
| Uhuru Citizen Username: Uhuru Post Number: 106 Registered: 5-2005 |
Dart electric is in maplewood. you were talking about south orange...now it has expanded??? what about that giant sink hole in the middle of town???? huh??? huuh?????? or the big rite aid you havent brought those up (to the best of my knowledge) or that giant IRON GATED fortress known as seton hall | ||
| jayjay Citizen Username: Jayjayp Post Number: 11 Registered: 6-2005 |
Peteglider- Thank heavens, someone else out there gets what I'm talking about. |
