Letter: Seniors need a place to gather (Printed Nov. 2, 2007)
Editor:
I just finished reading a fact-filled letter, filled with reasons why we as citizens of Scarborough should vote for yet another athletic filed in Scarborough or by another name an “multiuse park.” They quoted all kinds of facts but I question some.
The first fact was, quote “It is important to note that at a recent discussion with the senior group." (Unless they held more then one discussion with seniors). This group consisted of only 16 seniors and that question that was raised, if the pavilion at the proposed park could be used during the summer for seniors to teach crafts to our youth?
Went more like this, “If this park and all the others were (it will be park No. 5) neighborhood/multiuse parks, because we hear a lot of talk about bring back the neighborhoods to Scarborough then why not do this?” Like many city/town parks do.
You higher two park instructors, college students training in the recreation field, you already have installed the fields minus the monkey bars etc. These instructors could teach crafts, (not seniors) like gimping, basket weaving, and leather making, plus sports and so on.
They would develop baseball teams and other teams with volunteering coaches (mom and dads) representing each playground/park over the summer they would compete against each other also during the summer each playground/park would have a lawn party with all kinds of donated baskets of groceries, toys and other goodies to be raffled off, moon bounces, games of chance, bake sales, their crafts could be judged and sold. The proceeds can then go to take all the kids from each park/play ground on a mystery/fun trip.
To close the summer season you could have one big playground/park filed day, track, soccer, baseball each playground competing against each other winning ribbons for their instructors. Their responses to that were not what was in the paper, how could it be? About our seniors: what was said is this “if you are going to have a senior space are the benches going to be elevated so that it will be easier for a senior to be able to sit or get up from? The people speaking on behalf of this new park did not know, frankly they looked surprised at the question. They were unaware of many of the ADA requirements for restrooms, ramps etc., but I am sure those who may be building the park are.
One question asked was. What is the immediate area near the pavilion going to be paved with? Because if it were to be paved with any thing other then asphalt it would be difficult to push a wheel chair to the pavilion area. They thought it to be asphalt. Another question was asked; if there would be a buffer zone between some of the nosier activities and the senior pavilion? They did not know and they plans handed out did not show any. Studies do show that many seniors after a while do become tiresome of nosier activities. This was felt to be important especially if some seniors have come there to enjoy that same sunny, warm day as others but in a more quite relaxed manner for a good part of their day, but in their own senior space, (remember the proponents of this park have made this senior space a key note to selling this park to the senior voters) and have it some what disturbed by a ballgame or yelling kids, there is no perfect world but compared to other towns and cities Scarborough is so lacking in providing for it’s senior citizens.
This fact-filled letter mentions a survey taken in 2006 by Critical Insights but they fail to mention that at the time this survey was taken that the YMCA was also here in town with an on going campaign to raise money to build a “Y” here in Scarborough and in their process of campaigning they had sold many on the idea that there would be so very much for our seniors, membership would be easy to obtain for those with financial stress (scholarships) and Scarborough would have its swimming pool and so on. So the answers given by those surveyed (only those 55+) by Critical Insights was definitely influenced by the fact that Scarborough would have all that it need. Though the “Y” discontinued its campaign and left Scarborough, the survey was never adjusted or revised to show we were not going to have those assets, so if you think about it, it became an invalid survey, so to quote from it now, is still misleading. The question of taxes came up at this meeting and a senior asked, “Will this tax, really get lifted at the end of 10 years and what guarantee do the citizens of Scarborough have that it will”? There was kind of a chuckle by the attendees and of course it was an unfair question, the representative had no idea and we all know what happens to most tax increases, like unwanted relatives they never seem to leave. I sit at home at pleasant hill wondering why we are spending $1.2 million to build another park that is so close to one all ready built in the Coulethard development; it is almost just across the road. The Pleasant Hill Road and the Black Point Road is not that far apart!
I find it ironic that $1.2 million is exactly the amount the referendum was for a senior center. Are we as a town going too continually build parks near or for every sizeable development in town? I ask my self why not a senior center on that spot?
Bill Billings
Scarborough
I just finished reading a fact-filled letter, filled with reasons why we as citizens of Scarborough should vote for yet another athletic filed in Scarborough or by another name an “multiuse park.” They quoted all kinds of facts but I question some.
The first fact was, quote “It is important to note that at a recent discussion with the senior group." (Unless they held more then one discussion with seniors). This group consisted of only 16 seniors and that question that was raised, if the pavilion at the proposed park could be used during the summer for seniors to teach crafts to our youth?
Went more like this, “If this park and all the others were (it will be park No. 5) neighborhood/multiuse parks, because we hear a lot of talk about bring back the neighborhoods to Scarborough then why not do this?” Like many city/town parks do.
You higher two park instructors, college students training in the recreation field, you already have installed the fields minus the monkey bars etc. These instructors could teach crafts, (not seniors) like gimping, basket weaving, and leather making, plus sports and so on.
They would develop baseball teams and other teams with volunteering coaches (mom and dads) representing each playground/park over the summer they would compete against each other also during the summer each playground/park would have a lawn party with all kinds of donated baskets of groceries, toys and other goodies to be raffled off, moon bounces, games of chance, bake sales, their crafts could be judged and sold. The proceeds can then go to take all the kids from each park/play ground on a mystery/fun trip.
To close the summer season you could have one big playground/park filed day, track, soccer, baseball each playground competing against each other winning ribbons for their instructors. Their responses to that were not what was in the paper, how could it be? About our seniors: what was said is this “if you are going to have a senior space are the benches going to be elevated so that it will be easier for a senior to be able to sit or get up from? The people speaking on behalf of this new park did not know, frankly they looked surprised at the question. They were unaware of many of the ADA requirements for restrooms, ramps etc., but I am sure those who may be building the park are.
One question asked was. What is the immediate area near the pavilion going to be paved with? Because if it were to be paved with any thing other then asphalt it would be difficult to push a wheel chair to the pavilion area. They thought it to be asphalt. Another question was asked; if there would be a buffer zone between some of the nosier activities and the senior pavilion? They did not know and they plans handed out did not show any. Studies do show that many seniors after a while do become tiresome of nosier activities. This was felt to be important especially if some seniors have come there to enjoy that same sunny, warm day as others but in a more quite relaxed manner for a good part of their day, but in their own senior space, (remember the proponents of this park have made this senior space a key note to selling this park to the senior voters) and have it some what disturbed by a ballgame or yelling kids, there is no perfect world but compared to other towns and cities Scarborough is so lacking in providing for it’s senior citizens.
This fact-filled letter mentions a survey taken in 2006 by Critical Insights but they fail to mention that at the time this survey was taken that the YMCA was also here in town with an on going campaign to raise money to build a “Y” here in Scarborough and in their process of campaigning they had sold many on the idea that there would be so very much for our seniors, membership would be easy to obtain for those with financial stress (scholarships) and Scarborough would have its swimming pool and so on. So the answers given by those surveyed (only those 55+) by Critical Insights was definitely influenced by the fact that Scarborough would have all that it need. Though the “Y” discontinued its campaign and left Scarborough, the survey was never adjusted or revised to show we were not going to have those assets, so if you think about it, it became an invalid survey, so to quote from it now, is still misleading. The question of taxes came up at this meeting and a senior asked, “Will this tax, really get lifted at the end of 10 years and what guarantee do the citizens of Scarborough have that it will”? There was kind of a chuckle by the attendees and of course it was an unfair question, the representative had no idea and we all know what happens to most tax increases, like unwanted relatives they never seem to leave. I sit at home at pleasant hill wondering why we are spending $1.2 million to build another park that is so close to one all ready built in the Coulethard development; it is almost just across the road. The Pleasant Hill Road and the Black Point Road is not that far apart!
I find it ironic that $1.2 million is exactly the amount the referendum was for a senior center. Are we as a town going too continually build parks near or for every sizeable development in town? I ask my self why not a senior center on that spot?
Bill Billings
Scarborough
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