I wrote this in response to the City of St. Paul Park's plan for Lilydale. I am glad I don't have to pay taxes in St. Paul so that they can "beautify" transportation trails in a floodplain park.
I have watched, over my many years on the River, the progression of Lilydale,
both as City and "Park". I first was sad to see the houses/trailers and the
residents that occupied them leave. I have always appreciated the many facets of the River's community, whether it was floodplain dwelling River Rats, shanty boaters, or live on boaters. I have always treasured those parts, even if the MNDNR and the new "guardians" in town, the National Park Service didn't accept them as part of the culture of the River. As long as I didn't pay for the consequences of their decisions, let them stay. I especially enjoyed the
ambiance of Wayne and Dolly's watering hole at the marina. Even as a young man, I enjoyed the irony of having people quaffing cold ones in two such distinct establishments as the Pool and Yacht Club and the Lilydale Marina, almost within hollering distance from each other. But alas, people with grander plans for Lilydale moved those residents out and we all waited for what was to come.
And we all waited and waited. At the same time, I filled my time railing
against the those same people who stripped Lilydale of its' character and life,
because they were now calling for eliminating the commercial side of the River, another piece in the fabric of the River culture, from the Riverfront-my life. I
remember chastising those people, in public meetings, how their plans for the
rest of the Riverfront smelled a lot like the Lilydale Plan. Eliminate and
stagnate. As the years passed and the minimal "improvements" crept in to
Lilydale, I started appreciating the fact that we almost had a "real" floodplain park with minimal touches of the St. Paul Parks' heavy-handed planners intrusion. I had seen their touches on other so called "Flood Plain Parks" like Harriet Island and the Upper Landing. I had seen how they took a community friendly park, like Harriet Island, where at any time you could see families picnicking, soccer games(And I am old enough to say, I proudly played against the Aztecas, on their home field-Harriet Island), and summer softball games, into an event park for carpet bagging event promoters to enjoy the tax provided venues and take their money and run. I watched the Upper Landing morph from a long awaited restoration to its' natural form as a floodplain into some technicolored Euro styled housing mass, just waiting for the next big flood.
I have watched, over my many years on the River, the progression of Lilydale,
both as City and "Park". I first was sad to see the houses/trailers and the
residents that occupied them leave. I have always appreciated the many facets of the River's community, whether it was floodplain dwelling River Rats, shanty boaters, or live on boaters. I have always treasured those parts, even if the MNDNR and the new "guardians" in town, the National Park Service didn't accept them as part of the culture of the River. As long as I didn't pay for the consequences of their decisions, let them stay. I especially enjoyed the
ambiance of Wayne and Dolly's watering hole at the marina. Even as a young man, I enjoyed the irony of having people quaffing cold ones in two such distinct establishments as the Pool and Yacht Club and the Lilydale Marina, almost within hollering distance from each other. But alas, people with grander plans for Lilydale moved those residents out and we all waited for what was to come.
And we all waited and waited. At the same time, I filled my time railing
against the those same people who stripped Lilydale of its' character and life,
because they were now calling for eliminating the commercial side of the River, another piece in the fabric of the River culture, from the Riverfront-my life. I
remember chastising those people, in public meetings, how their plans for the
rest of the Riverfront smelled a lot like the Lilydale Plan. Eliminate and
stagnate. As the years passed and the minimal "improvements" crept in to
Lilydale, I started appreciating the fact that we almost had a "real" floodplain park with minimal touches of the St. Paul Parks' heavy-handed planners intrusion. I had seen their touches on other so called "Flood Plain Parks" like Harriet Island and the Upper Landing. I had seen how they took a community friendly park, like Harriet Island, where at any time you could see families picnicking, soccer games(And I am old enough to say, I proudly played against the Aztecas, on their home field-Harriet Island), and summer softball games, into an event park for carpet bagging event promoters to enjoy the tax provided venues and take their money and run. I watched the Upper Landing morph from a long awaited restoration to its' natural form as a floodplain into some technicolored Euro styled housing mass, just waiting for the next big flood.
Upper Landing Eurotrash Housing
Then, after that next big flood, we can build another higher floodwall to
protect people, who weren't worth protecting on the West Side and Lilydale.
When I was young, only poor people lived on the River banks, now, only rich
people do.
protect people, who weren't worth protecting on the West Side and Lilydale.
When I was young, only poor people lived on the River banks, now, only rich
people do.
$5 million Restoration Lilydale Marina
So now, we spend $5 million dollars to clean up Wayne and Dolly's little piece
of Lilydale. And to accomplish what? At what price do we achieve "Access everywhere for everyone'? The new design of Harriet Island took away some of the best access for mobility challenged people when the drive through with the parking spots was eliminated. Did any of those planners have a clue how many of those same people got to park their cars on the River's edge and read a paper and have lunch looking at the River? The great new plan for Blackdog Road will do the same thing. The last place a person can drive down and stop to watch the MN River flow will be limited to bikes. It is time someone other than that right wing entertainer Soucheray ask at what price.
of Lilydale. And to accomplish what? At what price do we achieve "Access everywhere for everyone'? The new design of Harriet Island took away some of the best access for mobility challenged people when the drive through with the parking spots was eliminated. Did any of those planners have a clue how many of those same people got to park their cars on the River's edge and read a paper and have lunch looking at the River? The great new plan for Blackdog Road will do the same thing. The last place a person can drive down and stop to watch the MN River flow will be limited to bikes. It is time someone other than that right wing entertainer Soucheray ask at what price.
Loss of Mobility Challenged River Access
. So, I say to you planners, go after Lilydale the best you can, just don't be as ignorant as those people who used to pile up snow full of salt sand along Pickerel Lake and then wonder why water quality was poor or the people who put up the beautiful split rail fence in a floodway and wondered why floodwaters knocked it down.
And one other thing, listen to Jon Kerr, he does more than drive through it!
And one other thing, listen to Jon Kerr, he does more than drive through it!
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