City Bushmaster Forum summary

Hey all, for those who couldn't attend the meeting tonight, you can still make comments through email to Steve Zimmerman at szimmerman@flagstaffaz.gov or through the city website http://www.flagstaff.az.gov/forms.aspx?FID=171. Here are the questions we were asked to address in our small groups at the meeting (although our group abandoned them at one point) You could use them as a starting point to make comments. The next meeting on the 10th will be the presentation of the plan designed by Chuck Hammersley supposedly using the comments collected at tonight's meeting. We will then have another opportunity to comment on and refine the plan before it gets proposed to the city.

1. How have you and your extended family used Bushmaster Park and what is your favorite
activity to participate in at the park?
2. Are you using the park as much as you would like? If not, what could be changed to help
you use it more?
3. What days of the week and times of the day do you use the park? Are there other times
you would like to be able to use the park?
4. What mode of transportation do you use to get to the park?
5. In Flagstaff there are different types of parks that are more developed like Thorpe Park or
more natural like Buffalo Park. Bushmaster has both developed and natural qualities. In
your opinion, does this work? Is this what you would like to see at Bushmaster or would
you like to see something different? >
6. Think of a park that you have visited {hat you enjoyed.

1. What activities or services did you participate in that you would like to see
offered at Bushmaster Park?
2. What did you like about the space that could be incorporated intoJBushmaster
Park?

7. What is special about Flagstaff and your neighborhood that you would like to see
reflected in the park?
8. Do you have any other thoughts on what could make Bushmaster Park better?

Sponsoring Events

Hello Neighbors,
At our last meeting, many folks discussed hosting events at the park as a way of getting more legitimate users in there.  There were many ideas thrown around including:

Encouraging the city to plan more events there

Getting together with a non-profit to host an event--even if it has nothing to do with the park

Hosting some kind of neighborhood event

My personal feeling is that the last option is the best.  I feel that getting the neighbors to take ownership in the park will make it safer.  I don't actually care if citizens from Coconino Estates want to come to Bushmaster.  My bigger concern is that people who live in the houses bordering the park don't feel safe there.  I think if we solve that issue, the first issue will resolve itself.  I have envisioned having a neighborhood picnic with things like sack races, water balloon toss, maybe a basketball tournament etc.  Like a big block party for east side residents--concentrating on the greenlaws, but leaving it open.

Another thought I've had would be to have an event that highlights every part of the park.  So have a dog demonstration at the dog park--maybe the frisbee dog groups that sometimes perform at various flag events, then have some kind of skate park thing--maybe a contest, a 3 on 3 basketball tournament, a tennis tournament, a horseshoe tournament, and maybe even having a botanist come out and lead little tours on the east side showing people which plants are native and which are invasive.  Or we could have some kind of treasure hunt for kids (although the broken glass makes that not so desirable).  Pair this with a park cleanup event or something like that?

What are your thoughts, neighbors?

Purpose of our group

Hello Neighbors,
So I've been asked by several people lately, "What is the goal of your group?"

I have a hard time answering because I only know my feelings.  I don't really know how the rest of you feel.

Here is what I think. 

In the beginning, the group was formed with the help of the Flagstaff Police Dept.  The focus was on Bushmaster and trying to encourage citizens to participate in making the park safer mostly by calling in when suspicious activity was taking place.  So far most of our meetings have been PD led.  Ken and Drew report on crime for the month and folks ask questions etc.  I think this leads to low turnout.  Once folks here about the crime and what they should do, why should they come back??

Here is my thought.  The only thing that is going to make that park safe is if the neighbors get to know one another.  It has got to be grassroots.  When you can identify your neighbors by face if not by name, then you know who belongs and who doesn't.  I'm not saying that other people in Flagstaff can't use the park, but I think the majority of park users are from the neighborhood.  If we start talking to one another, then we know that we have each other's back.  Even if we don't agree on politics or other issues, we still have each other in our best interest.  So my thought is that our group should be more about community development--sponsoring events, getting grants to do things, having a unified voice when asked by the city what we want to do with the park.  My high and mighty goal would be to get a community center built-- a place where we can have meetings, classes, etc.  But for now, just having regular meetings where we can meet one another and develop a community.  What do others think?

Discussions

If you have ideas about neighborhood or park projects or developments, we can use the "Discussion" tag to organize them here on the blog.  There is a link on the sidebar to email me if you want to become a blog "author" and write posts of your own.  Or you can just send your comments to me via the email.