Getting involved

We've been in our house for coming up on two years now. And for two years, there's been an 8-acre lot of dirt right as you turn into our development... What is to be our future neighborhood park.

A few weeks back we were made aware that the Parks and Recreation had come up with development plan that included two soccer fields... and little else. We were encouraged by one resident leading the cause, to write in and express our distaste for having two soccer fields right around the corner. There's (what?) 20 kids on a soccer field at any given point. Times two. Plus parents. Did I mention they didn't plan for parking?

Junction Park Plans: Before

So I wrote in, saying how I thought two soccer fields was excessive, and it seemed as though they were trying to make a sports complex out of our neighborhood park. I wrote how we were told by the builder that this would be a "neighborhood park", and we bought with that expectation. I wrote how our expectations also consisted of this neighborhood staying a quiet, low-traffic area and how I believed this park would be designed for local residents, but it was instead designed for the City to have another venue for sports leagues. Where is open irrigated space? Why isn't there space provided for other activities besides soccer? Why do we need TWO soccer fields?

Just last week Matt and I attended a "workshop" put on by the City, along with the rest of our neighborhood. And after hearing our concerns, they presented us with a newly devised plan for Junction Park:

Junction Park Plans: After

Check us out! We have bocce ball and open fields and a sand volley ball court and a covered picnic area and a bathroom... But most importantly, we have only ONE soccer field!

I am 100% satisfied with the new design. Visions of us and our kids playing here in a few years seems so much more realistic now that the planning has been revised to be more neighborhood-friendly.

They've already broke ground on the project... I'm just wondering how long it will take for that dirt lot to turn into this beautiful park!!