Jackson Park

Why is it that Millennium Park is always well taken care of but other parks are not? Specifically, at Henry Jackson Park the grass and weeds are always high, and when it is finally mowed it is left with mounds of dead clippings everywhere and the grass is still too high.  The bushes are taking over the walking paths, and the trees have dead branches hanging. The main pavilion is in bad need of repair and is dangerous to use in its current condition.  Jackson Park has the city's only disc golf course but it is so difficult to walk the course that many smaller children can't even enjoy the game.  The park is rarely used because of its condition, so why not take care of it so it can be enjoyed rather than letting it go year after year?

Dear Editor: "If you build it, they will come" - a famous line from the movie "Field of Dreams. " It's a great story about a man who is determined to build a baseball park in his backyard against community opposition. The property owners around Jackson Park who oppose the skating facility to be built (who I have yet to see show up at any city commission meetings) should pause and reflect back to the day they decided to purchase their home, when their agent enthusiastically pointed out, "...and there's a park just down the street.

Dear Editor: I am not a skateboarder. But I am a homeowner in the Jackson Park neighborhood, and I'm writing in favor of locating a skatepark there. While I can understand the objections of those living on access roads to the park, surely all of us who live in the neighborhood understood when we bought homes here that we were adjacent to a public park. As a minister and an adjunct professor at UK, I think I understand something of the frustrations of many young people who are often perturbed by, even alienated from, the deliberations of "adult" society.

Parks and Recreation has a spot for the skatepark - Jackson Park, but at least two Danville City Commissioners said Tuesday they aren't voting for it. John Drake, parks director, told the commissioners that the skatepark is on a master plan for Jackson Park, along with a BMX section, croquet court, horseshoes, volleyball and lighted softball and baseball fields. "The neighbors are going to be reluctant," Drake said, adding that if the homeowners survived adult softball there they would be able to live with the skaters.

They got it. They think they got it. Well, they are almost sure they got it. It already felt like summertime inside city hall, the air conditioner was broken, but that didn't deter more than 60 kids, their parents and Jackson Park residents from packing the Commission meeting Monday to hear a debate about a skatepark. The commissioners voted to buy the equipment and let the park and recreation board recommend where to put it. The board has already said the facility should be put in Jackson Park.

Dear Editor: In regard to a recent letter stating that Jackson Park belongs to the community: Yes, I agree, but let me state a few facts. First of all, my husband and I have lived at 602 Parklawn Drive since March 1968, and the tennis court at Jackson Park is directly behind our house. While living on Parklawn, we have seen many disturbing and annoying happenings at the park. The previous basketball court had to be done away with due to excess noise, foul language, alcohol and a large amount of traffic.

Springtime has come to central Kentucky, filling our parks, playing fields, sidewalks and streets with people of all ages seeking exercise, fresh air and fun.  Millennium Park is in its 13th year as the centerpiece for this activity. And wow has it grown in popularity, with so much to offer and such well maintained grounds. We can thank the Danville-Boyle County Recreation Department, the governments that support the park and, of course, the numerous volunteers that help run programs for this credit to our community.

Dear Editor: I may not be a skateboarder but I understand what this park will mean to my friends and me. America is a growing nation and Danville is a growing town. We've made it a point to be leaders, and in sports and recreation we have failed. This skatepark would bring about many positive changes. Some people complain because we skate where we are not allowed, but this park would give us a home place to skate. The commission says that Jackson Park isn't right, well what place is right?

FRANKFORT - The city of Danville and Garrard County have received grants to improve community parks through the Federal Highway Administration's Recreational Trails program. Danville received $43,500 for trail improvements at Jackson Park, and Garrard County received $60,000 to create a walking trail at Logan-Hubble Memorial Park, Kentucky First Lady Jane Beshear's office announced. At Logan-Hubble Memorial Park off U.S. 27 south of Lancaster, the grant funds will go toward construction of a walking and bicycling trail, said Garrard County Deputy Judge-Executive James Bushnell.

Meetings Lincoln County Board of Education   - 6:30 p.m. today at the Central Office. Danville-Boyle County Recreation Commission - 4:15 p.m. Wednesday at the Boyle County Fiscal Courtroom. Items on the agenda include: treasurer's report; petitions and request; old business of youth basketball concerns, meeting with magistrate committee, soccer registration administrative, proposed soccer field plan (without grant), City of Danville reimbursement request (Jackson Park and Fitness Center expense)

Editor's note: Taken from the Danville 911 records, the Police Blotter represents a history of the initial calls and the information used by the dispatcher to send officers to investigate complaints. It is not necessarily an indication of what the officer found upon arrival at the scene, or of how police may have dealt with the complaint.   MAY 1 12:52 a.m., vehicle enforcement on Gose Pike; arrest made. 3:53 a.m., report that an animal near the baseball field at Millennium Park has a bag stuck on its head; assistance given.

Springtime has come to central Kentucky, filling our parks, playing fields, sidewalks and streets with people of all ages seeking exercise, fresh air and fun.  Millennium Park is in its 13th year as the centerpiece for this activity. And wow has it grown in popularity, with so much to offer and such well maintained grounds. We can thank the Danville-Boyle County Recreation Department, the governments that support the park and, of course, the numerous volunteers that help run programs for this credit to our community.

When Erin and Jeremy Goldberg of Vinson Road took their 10- and 12-year-olds to Danville's Henry Jackson Park on March 30, they were disappointed by what they found. Erin Goldberg said there was a hole in a slide, a broken merry-go-round, a beer can and trash, and a large hole in the pavilion, along with various other issues. “Honestly, a lot of it didn't look safe,” she said. “The longer we stayed, the more we were disappointed.” The Goldbergs moved to Danville about a year ago to Erin's grandparents' former home.

Meetings Lincoln County Board of Education   - 6:30 p.m. today at the Central Office. Danville-Boyle County Recreation Commission - 4:15 p.m. Wednesday at the Boyle County Fiscal Courtroom. Items on the agenda include: treasurer's report; petitions and request; old business of youth basketball concerns, meeting with magistrate committee, soccer registration administrative, proposed soccer field plan (without grant), City of Danville reimbursement request (Jackson Park and Fitness Center expense)

Several public and private groups funded by the city of Danville had to sweat through the City Commission's deliberations Thursday on what was ultimately a similar budget to the current one. Organizations receiving large amounts of money from both Danville and Boyle Fiscal Court had their funding levels mostly held flat, although there were several split votes.  The total amount was $405,000, compared to $403,000 in the current budget....

Danville-Boyle County Parks and Recreation was one of the lone agencies to request a substantial funding increase Thursday during Danville City Commission's budget meeting, but the purse strings may be tightening even more, according to some officials. Parks and Recreation Director John Drake said the city has lagged behind Boyle County in funding for Millennium Park and park programming and said subsidies for several other functions of the department are needed in the coming year.

Why is it that Millennium Park is always well taken care of but other parks are not? Specifically, at Henry Jackson Park the grass and weeds are always high, and when it is finally mowed it is left with mounds of dead clippings everywhere and the grass is still too high.  The bushes are taking over the walking paths, and the trees have dead branches hanging. The main pavilion is in bad need of repair and is dangerous to use in its current condition.  Jackson Park has the city's only disc golf course but it is so difficult to walk the course that many smaller children can't even enjoy the game.  The park is rarely used because of its condition, so why not take care of it so it can be enjoyed rather than letting it go year after year?

FRANKFORT - The city of Danville and Garrard County have received grants to improve community parks through the Federal Highway Administration's Recreational Trails program. Danville received $43,500 for trail improvements at Jackson Park, and Garrard County received $60,000 to create a walking trail at Logan-Hubble Memorial Park, Kentucky First Lady Jane Beshear's office announced. At Logan-Hubble Memorial Park off U.S. 27 south of Lancaster, the grant funds will go toward construction of a walking and bicycling trail, said Garrard County Deputy Judge-Executive James Bushnell.

It's all about the compromise. Danville's skatepark site might be moved 2,000 feet west, from Jackson Park to Millennium Park, and be ready to roll about mid-July. But how? Didn't the city need another $40,000 for a concrete pad? It is a feat that in this budget year is like getting blood from a turnip. The park planning committee and Commissioner Jamey Gay put their heads together. Here's their plan: Take the $20,000 to be spent on improvements to Jackson Park this year and use it on concrete.

Dear Editor: I may not be a skateboarder but I understand what this park will mean to my friends and me. America is a growing nation and Danville is a growing town. We've made it a point to be leaders, and in sports and recreation we have failed. This skatepark would bring about many positive changes. Some people complain because we skate where we are not allowed, but this park would give us a home place to skate. The commission says that Jackson Park isn't right, well what place is right?