Should lights be added to volleyball courts?
Neighbors in the area are against this and would like the park to remain quiet at night, since it is in a quiet residential neighborhood and players want to play at night, in essence, lighting up the park, bringing people and cars to the area after dark.
Presently the park closes at sunset.
It would seem to be a toss up only the people who want the park open and lit up at night don't live near the park and one guy who started a petition doesn't live in the Grove or the City of Miami at all - he lives in Miami Beach!
Back in August I asked people about the issue, what did they feel? I asked people in the North Grove, not necessarily those who live right at the park, but those who lived in the vicinity.
"Not sure what the big deal is with the lights taking so long to install. I approve the lights and think it would make the park a little safer after sundown; not just for the volleyball players, but for dog walkers, runners etc. So long as the lights are off around 10 pm, which is the time the public tennis courts shut down their lights."
"Count me as opposed to lighting up the courts at night. There will be more traffic (where will everyone park?), noise and people from all over the county coming to play volleyball at a facility that is not designed to handle it. Volleyball until 10 pm means people in the park until even later. A few years ago when the police were less vigilant about closing the gates at night, people came and stayed in the park until the wee hours, having a party and playing loud music. Use the money instead to repair the bathrooms, walking/riding path, footbridge and vitacourse equipment. Keep the park a daytime venue. And it would be nice if park officials would notify neighbors of a proposed change in use and provide an opportunity for input before ordering the lights to be put up (as occurred here)."
"People who opposed the lights being installed are selfish ridiculous people who have no sense of community! Why would you opposed making a PUBLIC park safer and more accessible for everyone to use?! Because you don’t want more people to have access to it at night? Get off your high horse and just be a decent human being! Find something nice to do with your time!"
posted by Tom Falco at 9:00 AM
YOU MAY NOT LIFT THE PHOTOS & TEXT. IT'S COPYRIGHTED INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY. YOU CAN HOWEVER SHARE A STORY ON SOCIAL MEDIA BY USING THE LINKS HERE.
For linking to this one story, just click on the time it was posted & just this story will open for sharing - only through social media. Not copying and pasting.
9 Comments:
It just seems like the same people complain about any proposed change that occurs in the Grove. These people are stuck in the past and don't want anything to change their vision of what they think the Grove should be. There are literally 3-4 houses that are across from the park that MIGHT be able to see the lights from their house and do you really think that many more people would be driving Bayshore Drive because volleyball courts are lit at night. C'mon people..stop channeling all of this negative energy because you are scared of any little change. The proposed lights aren't going to affect your life whatsoever.
John S.
No lights, parks close at dusk for everyone, add palm trees around the courts (25 feet away) for the volleyball players to get a little more shade and play more in daylight.
If the lights are out at 10pm, and police shuts down the park, should be ok.
I would love to hear why people are opposed to having the lights in the park. The increase in the traffic will be negligible, the noise of the people playing won't be heard by anyone, and the increase of people playing only adds to the safety of the park for the people that are walking their dogs, jogging, etc. Big deal if the people that are playing living on Miami Beach, Wynwood, etc. as the last time I checked, Kennedy Park isn't exclusive to Coconut Grove Residents. I agree with John S that people just like to complain.
They need them on in the morning too, especially when the dreaded time change comes back. All I ask is that they stop trying to shower in the drinking fountain!
No lights until they remodel the bathrooms! They’ve been shut down for about 4 years. That’s just ridiculous!! As far as the lights go, it really should be up to the residents that live right on S Bayshore and Rockerman Road (I believe that’s the name of the street). Those residents that would be most affected by the lights and noise.
Does that mean I can use the park to jog until 10pm?
Pictures worth a million words. Two blacks, or possibly one Latino, who can predict who will come to play if lights are allowed? Forget the residents, purchase some curtains. Forget the traffic as how many mature intelligent hard working folks want to play volley ball in the P.M. after a hard days work? "And the guy who started a petition doesn't live in the Grove or the City of Miami". Bums and aberrant hostile difficult mentalities salivate @ invading locals that they have no right to other than to invade. Jobie Steppe
Kennedy Park has been a nature preserve park since it was created in 1972. There are several sports parks in Coconut Grove where sports activities to take place late into the night. These sports parks are the right place for sports after hours. Kennedy Park was created as a nature preserve park not as a sports park. There is no need to change it's character now at the expense of the peace quiet and security of the neighbors that live in the immediate vicinity when sports parks in the area already exist. Commisioner Russell's initiative to change Kennedy Park hours till late into the night is simply wrong. Wonder how the immediate vicinity of Merrie Christmas Park would feel if park hours were extended after sundown and sports facilities were built for use late into the night. Lastly, has Commissioner Russell given any thought to the impact his proposed change will have on the wildlife that lives in Kennedy Park?
Post a Comment
<< Home