The Enid News and Eagle, Enid, OK

Opinion

Discussion

February 15, 2008

Parks should be considered an investment

It’s time to interject a little common sense on the debate about what to do regarding vandalism or ADA compliance in Enid public parks.

Deal with it.

It really is as simple as that. Any idea the restrooms should be permanently closed should not even be considered. Also, using portable restrooms as a permanent solution isn’t a valid solution.

Enid is no different than any other city that has public parks. There will be vandalism. There will be ADA issues to address, particularly now that the city has been taken to court. However, quality public parks are a city asset that cannot be ignored or diminished.

First, in regard to the restroom situation: Because there is lower use of the parks during the winter months, bathrooms should remain locked during that time. We recommend locking the restrooms the day after Thanksgiving and reopening them the first weekend of March. Yes, some people will be inconvenienced and upset, but it makes sense to restrict use of the restrooms during the winter months.

If vandalism occurs, close the rest room until the vandalism is fixed. If vandalism is a problem at certain areas, keep those areas under surveillance. There are ways to electronically monitor what happens on the outside of a public restroom.

As for the ADA compliance issue, work through them on a prioritized basis. Provide the ADA-compliance portable restrooms until the restrooms are made ADA compliant. Perhaps there are grants or other funding that can be secured to make these important changes. The city has a grant writer who can research this. Perhaps the local community foundation can help with this issue as it is a quality-of-life issue.

As for dogs in the park, enforce leash laws. Also, we encourage the city to install receptacles that people can use to clean up after their dogs. This is also a quality-of-life issue that would make the parks look cleaner and better. Again, it’s possible grants could be secured to pay for this project.

We understand the funding needs and decisions that have to be made. Like we said, Enid is no different than any other community. We have nice parks, and keeping them compliant, clean and in working order should be considered an investment in our community

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