Dictionary.com defines the word park as "an area of land, usually in a largely natural state, for the enjoyment of the public, having facilities for rest and recreation, often owned, set apart, and managed by a city, state, or nation."
A commenter from this post reminded me of a recent development regarding the Milwaukee County Parks. That is that the restaurant Coast, which is located the O'Donnell Park Pavilion, will be closing their doors at the end of the year, only to reopen as a private party venue. In other words, unless you make reservations for an entire restaurant, you cannot access this part of a Milwaukee County public park.
Part of the money that we pay in taxes to Milwaukee County is to help maintain the parks. But what good does it do if we don't even have access to the very parks that we are paying for?
I can imagine how people like Charlie Sykes, Mark Belling or any of the right wing bloggers would scream their heads off if they were told by Governor Jim Doyle that they had to pay for something, but had no right to use it. Yet there is an eerie silence from them regarding Walker's abuse of office and of his misuse of County property.
Maybe it's because they are happy with that calling and realize that when they hold their events at the new place, they don't have to deal with the riff raff, like the poor and the minorities, who will no longer be allowed to use the parks that they also paid for.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
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I would avoid using "definitions" to make points in the future.
ReplyDeleteAfter all, your definition says that a park is "often" owned/managed by a government, though its not a requirement.
Likewise, a park is "usually" in a "largely natural state". O'Donnell park hardly counts in that regard either. It is not a park, but rather a concrete structure... hardly something to be enjoyed, but rather is a venue. And while the building may not be always available to the public, the area outside will be.
Though it is unfortunate about Coast, as it was a very nice, though expensive, restaurant. Which makes your claims regarding "the poor" to be kind of off base. Anyone who could afford to eat at Coast are not poor by definition.
I tend to agree with you and I also think this business plan kind of sucks. Maybe it will be good during the Spring, part of the summer and part of the Fall, but who is going to book parties during winter, other than the occassional Christmas party?
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