“The cowboys and the farmers should be friends.” The idea from the musical Oklahoma seems applicable to the Albemarle and Charlottesville relationship, but… The city cut a deal with the YMCA without clearing the deal and its expensive consequences with the county. The Dogwood Festival, which holds its spring celebration carnival at McIntire, was not consulted.
The city decided to build the YMCA building in McIntire Park exactly where the softball fields and the picnic shelters are located. This proposal would disrupt years of history and use of McIntire Park. Softball players will have to find somewhere else to play. Why not build the YMCA on another site? Who is going to pay for this disruptive plan?
The Charlottesville Parks and Recreation department would like to relocate the McIntire softball fields, shelters, parking lots, roads and lights to Darden Towe Park, which is located between Route 20N and the Rivanna River. The city Parks and Rec director has said that the Albemarle County tax payers should pay 70 per cent of the cost of relocation.
This is a bad plan. Here’s why:
1) The land for McIntire Park was a gift from Paul Goodlowe McIntire to be used as a PARK.
2) The YMCA should be located where people can access it by foot, bicycle, or bus.
3) Ideally, the YMCA should be located in a centrally populated area.
4) The original agreement ordinance for the creation of Darden Towe Park specifically stated that there never would be lights at that park. The local neighbors were insistent and this guarantee was given by city and county elected officials.
5) The earth moving, asphalt spreading, the new parking lots, widened roads, increased traffic, and LIGHTS in this rural area would be an environmental disaster for the Rivanna River, which is the western boundary of the Darden Park. City residents living east of Locust Avenue will be blinded by the lights.
6) Darden Towe Park is a rural, daylight, green space park. Night activities will change completely the character of this park and require increased security.
7) The cost of moving the softball fields, lights, parking, shelters, new roads and water run-off systems will be enormous. Estimates for this work are over SEVEN MILLION DOLLARS ($7,000,000.00).
8) YMCA is a wonderful, private, nonprofit organization that should not be paid for with public tax money.
Let us look at other locations for the YMCA.
What about the three and four tenths (3.4) acres in the Washington Park/Burley school area? The land is located in the central city with a city-density population that would enjoy the facility. It is on public bus lines with easy foot and bicycle access. There are fields and other facilities that would be complementary to the YMCA. What about the area around the IX building?
The relocation of the existing (and already paid for) softball fields and picnic shelters would be a very unnecessary and very expensive mistake. “If it isn’t broken, don’t fix it.” McIntire Park isn’t broken. It provides easily accessible, centrally located lighted fields where people have enjoyed playing. Best of all, it is paid for!
Please contact your representatives on the Board of Supervisors and City Council. They are spending your money.
Clara Belle Wheeler, a farmer, is a Charlottesville native and Albemarle resident.
