Doug Shields' Office fights memorial treehouse in Frick Park (construction, live in)

[fleetiebelle]

Via Scott's favorite Blogger: That's Church » In this corner … with tears in my eyes.

Long story short, a mom who lost her kids in a car accident wants to build a play area in their favorite park:

Not long after Kate and Peter died, Amy spoke with her father about memorializing her children in such a way as to do two things: give her some peace in knowing their memories would live on, and do it in a way that benefits OTHER children.


Kate and Peter loved Frick Park. It’s where Amy often took them to play. And Amy thought it fitting to raise the funds to put a playground of some sort in Frick Park for them. Those plans grew and shifted and changed until Amy and the Parks Conservancy decided on a unique treehouse type of play area for children to play in at Frick Park.

....

Amy spoke with Doug Shields’ office today. It seems this small but vocal group of opponents to the treehouse have somehow managed to get Doug Shields on their side. Doug Shields’ chief of staff told Amy that they are requesting she pull the proposed treehouse from that part of Frick Park and go put it somewhere else. In someone else’s backyard.

The mom's blog: http://callapitter46.blogspot.com/20...-news-and.html

[lifepgh2op]

I was just getting ready to post something about this. I'm speechless at our politicians and worse, OUR PEOPLE. Have we become THAT type of city?

[fleetiebelle]

I don't get what the objection is, really. There was mention of not wanting the park to be a cemetery, but lots of parks have memorial benches, memorial ball fields, memorial running trails, etc. I don't see the problem.

[TechieTransplant]

I just emailed Virginia and told her I'm going to contact Doug Shields office and try to find out what the issue is. As we sll know, I am extremely fond of the park and have no idea what the issue is, other than the fact that neighbors seem to think they own the park and make their own rules.

[caroline2]

What's especially bizarre about the objections is that it's just one part of a planned sequence of additions to the park by the Conservancy. So someone wants to give the city free money to build something they were planning to do anyway in one form or another, and people object because there will be a memorial plaque? Seriously?

[caroline2]

other than the fact that neighbors seem to think they own the park and make their own rules.

Bingo.

[groar]

everything has someone who's opposed to it. these people just managed to get a lot of attention. it's gross, but especially with all this publicity i seriously doubt it's going to have any effect on the construction of the playground.

[lifepgh2op]

Originally Posted by scottrpriester

I just emailed Virginia and told her I'm going to contact Doug Shields office and try to find out what the issue is. As we sll know, I am extremely fond of the park and have no idea what the issue is, other than the fact that neighbors seem to think they own the park and make their own rules.

Yeah, I'd be interested to hear the other side of the story. Let us know if you find out anything.

[BrianTH]

As many of you know we live in Regent Square, and we frequently walk to Frick Park with our four-year-old son, and I think a nice treehouse in Turtle Park would be awesome. I really don't understand what the opponents are thinking (as many have pointed out, memorials in parks are nothing new), but I strongly suspect that they don't really speak for the community, and I am hopeful that will become obvious at the meeting.

[Squeamish]

This treehouse is a wonderful idea! I really hope it works out. The world needs more unique fun places like this, particularly for kids.