urbanSTL

Awesome job to everyone helping clean the park yesterday. (edit: read steve's blog entry and it was particularly good.)



Gopher, regarding your comments, how do you construe this:

Riley said that he'd extended an invitation to meet with Rice to discuss the possibility of building a new shelter, elsewhere in the city, but Rice rejected the offer.

to mean this:

Larry was offered a brand new building to be built but that he refused...

??



I would think that if someone actually offered a brand new building to NLEC, that the Post would print it as such. The way it's worded in the paper sounds nothing like what you said. Do you have details on what the offer was?

bprop, good point...

Yeah, I guess it could be construed differently and no I don't have any other information, we'd have to talk to Riley.



Basically, from what the paper said, I inferred that Rice was given the opportunity to build a new shelter but that he refused.



I'll edit the post to reflect it...

Riley said that he'd extended an invitation to meet with Rice to discuss the possibility of building a new shelter, elsewhere in the city, but Rice rejected the offer.

Thanks bprop. The definition of the word 'new' is subjective and results in a semantic game. The point is that Larry Rice was offered a better shelter. Unfortunately, the NLEC blights the neighborhood. (I'm going to take pictures of the broken out windows at the NLEC today which pose a safety risk to the homeless.)



Did you all notice the P-D headline to the article? Park cleanup seen by some as assault on the homeless. I suppose rakes, shovels can be seen as dangerous tools! But we were just using them on the earth to make the park a more vibrant place for everyone to enjoy. The last paragraph of the article helped to balance it out a bit.

Oh and here's some more pictures that Steve Patterson put up...



http://www.flickr.com/photos/urbanrevie ... 272795481/

Some pictures taken from yesterday and the week before. Focus is on three ideas: Safe, Clean & Vibrant!



We've accomplished a lot and still have a lot more to do. We'll keep trucking...



Proofs: http://flickr.com/photos/digistic/sets/ ... 408823574/

Slideshow: http://flickr.com/photos/digistic/sets/ ... 3574/show/

Good pictures Inno.

Nice work yesterday

^So, has this become a weekly event?

^ Yes. On another note, I was walking Zoe in Lucas Park today and witnessed a feeding. Instead of asking them for their permit and threatening to call the health department, I decided to take a new tact.



Introducing myself, I first told them I thought what they were doing was very kind and thoughtful. I then explained how the community is banding together to make Lucas Park a safer, cleaner, and more vibrant park for everyone. I showed him the repainted benches, newly-edged grass, and litter-free reflecting pool (which I personally jumped in and cleaned the day before.)



I then explained to them that the community was concerned that the park is often strewn with litter after church groups distribute food. I asked him if there were methods that they could accomplish their good deed while being respectful to the community and the park. They seemed receptive and started talking about ways they could do just that. The leader gave me his number and also stated that he knows several of the other groups that feed in the park as well. I plan on collaborating with these groups for the benefit of all.



----



Yesterday while cleaning the park, there was a slight outburst. One homeless gentleman started screaming, "The park belongs to the homeless! We'll keep shitting and pissing in it as long as we like." So I told him, "The park belongs to everyone and we'll still respect you, sir." He then told me to "fck off" and I went on cleaning. Even when faced with such absurdity, one can never go wrong by taking the high road.



If someone is drinking alcohol or doing something else in the park they shouldn't be doing -- ask them politely to stop that behavior. If they ignore you (and they're doing something illegal), let them know you'll be calling the police unless they stop. If they don't, take their picture as evidence and call the police.



Any time someone wants to start a confrontation, defuse it. Listen to them. Explain to them that we also care about the homeless and are working to improve the park for everyone. The focus of various groups may differ, but we can find what's common and unite for the greater good. After all, who would oppose a clean, safe and vibrant environment?

RE: Has this become a weekly event?

We are planning to be a presence as a group on a weekly basis. We will also have brooms and other equipment handy so people can do some cleanup when they are in the park. WE will use the park on a daily basis! We still need to finish bench, railing and fence painting next week.

We will discuss the Halloween Party in the park at our next meeting. At least one Saturday a month we will have a Thank You to ourselves social event with all welcome and no work required.

If you would like notices of meetings please e-mail me at: hwynder@wustl.edu

So smart!



The best thing responsible downtown park users can do is actually use and frequent the Lucas park. The presence of park users has been proven to discourage use by the irresponsible users. Irresponsible being like the man said, defecating in public, or drunkenness, sleeping, bathing, anything hygenic other than picking up dog feces in public, etc...



Claim the park through regular use and as many events as possible, and continue the good work of kindly and respectfully addressing illegitimate uses like public feeding to groups that need help being directed towards legitimate organizations that provide these services like Centenary Cares program at Centenary UMC.

^ Except Centenary Cares doesn't offer food Saturday afternoon/evening and Sunday. That's when public feedings are the biggest issue. If a local service provider were open during those times, we could likely point the feeding groups there to distribute food. I don't think that's the case. I'm talking with the DHS about options.

I'll take care of it after class.

I'm very impressed with the work you guys have done and the proactive stand you have taken. Keep up the good work!

So, there has been no blowback from various city agencies so far? Nobody asking what you were doing there? Nobody asking to see permits?



Not to get too far ahead of things, but this is a great idea. It always amazes how many people out there want to take action, but don't know what to do. Sometimes, it just takes one small action to focus everyone on solving the problem. If this works, and Lucas Park becomes usable as public space again, it would be great if everyone would stick to it, and organize around the concept of addressing all such problems around downtown.

I hope it stays up there. F all that PC BS! Sometimes the truth hurts.

innov8ion wrote:Some Good News to Share.... The Saint Patrick's Center began power washing the park today. They will continue power washing until finished. The city also sent a crew today to mark and repair the sprinkler lines and heads. They believe the swampy area is related to a leak in the sprinkler head. Either way, the water problem will be addressed.



Mods - Is there a Lucas Park thread that much of this can be merged with?

uh yes



one that you started



http://www.urbanstl.com/viewtopic.php?t=5741



all posts should go THERE as they dont directly relate to the title of this thread

I was working near her while she edged and was impressed with her vigor. To me, the picture symbolizes an unassailable will toward revival.



A variety of homeless individuals have helped us in the cleaning process and for that we are grateful. One even gave me edging tips. Some of the comments I have observed here seem to be unnecessarily polarizing. That's a shame.

citywatcher wrote:


http://www.urbanstl.com/viewtopic.php?t=5741



all posts should go THERE as they dont directly relate to the title of this thread

Thanks for digging that up. I ran out of time last night after doing homework, but I should be able to move them tonight.

We'll be out there again this Saturday to paint the benches, finish edging, rake leaves, and then play some bocce, walk the dogs, play with our kids, etc.



Steve P. has another good write up of events that we're planning...



http://www.urbanreviewstl.com/?p=3993