The fun is over.
What remains of the playscape at Veterans' Memorial Park on Hamtramck's southend. Photo taken September 28, 2005 by Richard Hyska.
The black substance on the ground is what remains of a shock-absorbing material; loosely packed rubber derived from shredded tires. Some community leaders advised against the use of this material, which many believe contributed to the severity of the fire.
A little over half the structure is completely destroyed, but the playscape may be total loss.
The park is leased from the City of Hamtramck by the Hamtramck Board of Education which oversees operations of Hamtramck Recreation Department.
It has been learned by Hamtown Confidential that City Manager Donald Crawford surveyed the site today with several city officials and expressed an openness to a return of the Recreation Department to City control.
Seven days after the blaze, however, no clean-up efforts have been implemented, and the potentially toxic site remains accessible to children.
posted by Mike at 11:23 PM
3 Comments:
That really is sad. The fact that nothing has been done about cleaning up the mess is even worse!
Lifes Eyes
9/29/2005 11:42 PM
Sad, but not surprising.
The School Board has let the Park deteriorate badly over the past couple of years. Buildings have holes in them, windows are broken out and boarded over, grass and weeds are growing between the sidewalk, litter is strewn everywhere. Bathrooms are left locked; the parks is void with recreation programs and recreation staff.
These conditions have created a climate where such vandalism thrives.
What is even sadder is that up to two years ago, the Park was showing signs of coming back, led by the volunteer efforts of Preserve Our Parks members. But volunteers cannot maintain a 23 acre park 24/7/365. The School Board, which was entrusted with a millage to maintain the Park, should have done its job.
Clearly, the current School Board needs to go. It has no sense of responsibility over public property over which it is given trust.
The School Board is the real problem and should bear the blame for the destroyed play equipment at Veterans' Park.
9/29/2005 11:56 PM
The playscape ruins are still untouched and wide open to kids on Monday, Oct. 3.
R Hyska
10/03/2005 5:04 PM
Post a Comment
<< Home