Parks & Segregation

Last night, there was a conversation started about the closing of the Wellstown Community Park. I commented, telling the person he should contact Warren Byrd, District 2 Supervisor, since the park is in his district. Throughout the conversation, some valid points were raised, including the fact that parks in predominantly black communities are locked. I refrained from instantly blogging on this matter because I wanted to get more details. As I've always said, there's three sides to every story; my side, your side and the truth. We all have differing views and with the advent of social media, we have the ability to share our viewpoints without condidering the other side of the coin. Earlier today, I called Warren Byrd to see if I could get some clarity.

After speaking to Byrd, he informed me that the park was not locked, it was the small pavillion. Warren said there were two people that complained that the use of the facility wasn't fair; that certain people were allowed to monopolize the use of the building. From my conversation with Byrd, it seems that the two men that complained, said they were not allowed access to the building. I was also told that there wasn't a record of the people using the building and a complaint filed that the keys to the building were never returned which led to the changing of the lock. Byrd said the building is supposed to be operated like the voting/community centers; there needs to be a list of people using the building so there's accountability. Byrd also said the building can be used but the participants must sign up for use and get the key from Charles "Buckboy" Williams. Byrd said he's been looking for someone to manage the building and Williams was the only one to step up and accept responsibility.

I listened as Byrd explained the process and understood where he was coming from. However, I had a problem that an entire community lost access to a building based on tne complaints of two people. Last nignt, it was said that parks in the black community are always locked up like prison yards. For the record, the Wellstown Community Park is not locked but access to the pavillion has been restricted. I'm not sure about the Fifth Avenue Park. I know there was an agenda item to put locks on the gate after someone set a bench on fire. If that parked is locked, it's because of the behavior of some miscreant that thought it would be fun to destroy city property. Whenever a park or community is trashed/destroyed, it's done by those in tne community. Contrary to the destructive behavior that was often exhibited at the Fifth Avenue Park, it was totally different at the Wellstown Community Park. I've never heard of any rowdy, destructive activities happening there. As a matter of fact, the majority of those gathering on weekends are related to one another. Despite the complaints filed, I can't imagine one family being told they can't use the park because Wellstown is basically one big family. The men gathered there on weekends are bonding, barbequing and showing true brotherhood. They're not gathering just to be seen, they're also doing community services; feeding the elderly and widows, clean up projects and having fun in the process. It's truly sad that their good is being evil spoken of. It's said that we can't gather without complaints. It's even sadder that the enemy came from within.

"The fact that we stand in groups and say things you don't like, doesn't make us a mob, it makes us Americans. "