My main reason for attending was my proximity to the park (I live on the corner of 18th and Church) and the fact that I tend to be at the park on almost a daily basis. That being said, I don’t think my location gives any more credence to my opinions about the park, but I was very curious to see what the perspective of others was.

At the end of it all, I’m not really sure what all hopes to be accomplished. I’m pretty sure my views fell into the minority grouping at the meeting. Music and noise from gatherings at the park doesn’t disturb me at all, it’s one of the reasons I was so stoked to be able to live across the street from the park. Also I’ve learned how to close a window.

What bothered me most about this meeting, though, was the underlying tendency to want to point the finger at certain “constituencies”, and the feeling that the park was being “overused” that many expressed. Singling out “hipsters” and “Mexicans” by some I found particularly disgraceful. Even the organizer, Gideon, told a story of a time he apparently asked “four Hispanic men” if they were going to clean up their beer cans. If the point of his story was that locals should be at the forefront of raising awareness in others to clean up after themselves, I really don’t see how the fact that the men were Hispanic had any relevance at all.

And that’s what worries me the most. I think peoples preconceived notions of what a park should be used for and about the diverse array of people who have come to love using the park are likely blurring their judgement in some respects. So far all there is to show for their efforts is some fresh manure on the ground and an annoyingly obtuse police presence.

However, I hope what does come out of all this is a raised awareness in people who use the park to be mindful of the neighbors who live around it, and to clean up after themselves.

Hopefully the actions of an inconsiderate few don’t ruin the beauty and enjoyment of the majority who use the park. And that applies to those on both sides of the debate.

My main reason for attending was my proximity to the park (I live on the corner of 18th and Church) and the fact that I tend to be at the park on almost a daily basis. That being said, I don’t think my location gives any more credence to my opinions about the park, but I was very curious to see what the perspective of others was.

At the end of it all, I’m not really sure what all hopes to be accomplished. I’m pretty sure my views fell into the minority grouping at the meeting. Music and noise from gatherings at the park doesn’t disturb me at all, it’s one of the reasons I was so stoked to be able to live across the street from the park. Also I’ve learned how to close a window.

What bothered me most about this meeting, though, was the underlying tendency to want to point the finger at certain “constituencies”, and the feeling that the park was being “overused” that many expressed. Singling out “hipsters” and “Mexicans” by some I found particularly disgraceful. Even the organizer, Gideon, told a story of a time he apparently asked “four Hispanic men” if they were going to clean up their beer cans. If the point of his story was that locals should be at the forefront of raising awareness in others to clean up after themselves, I really don’t see how the fact that the men were Hispanic had any relevance at all.

And that’s what worries me the most. I think peoples preconceived notions of what a park should be used for and about the diverse array of people who have come to love using the park are likely blurring their judgement in some respects. So far all there is to show for their efforts is some fresh manure on the ground and an annoyingly obtuse police presence.

However, I hope what does come out of all this is a raised awareness in people who use the park to be mindful of the neighbors who live around it, and to clean up after themselves.

Hopefully the actions of an inconsiderate few don’t ruin the beauty and enjoyment of the majority who use the park. And that applies to those on both sides of the debate.