Process minutes: 2004-04-25

Special Notes:

GO Playstructure Meeting

Minutes:

Facilitators: Sarah and Jillian Minuter taker: Lisa

Present: Tim, Melisa, Janel, Adi, Susan, George, Jillian, Elph, Amy N, Jenny, Craig, Amy H, Malcolm, Kelly, Debbi, Ted, Keith, Patti, Helen, Jim G, Gail, Willie, Jim S, Kathy S, Lydia, Lisa, Sarah, Dorothy. (Written comments provided by Judith and Mary S-C, who could not come to the meeting.) (did I miss anyone?)

AGENDA:

60 mins - Teddy-bear "talking stick" go-around, each person had 2 minutes to share how they felt about the playstructure location.

5 min break (during the break Jillian and Sarah made a list of concerns heard about the current location)

(minutes started being taken after the break)

2nd half - 60 mins Brainstorm 1: what are ways we could address each of these concerns with the current location. (we ended up all going outside for a minute to look at it in order to do this effectively.) Brainstorm 2: what are the other playstructure location options Discussion: which of the concerns about the current location would also apply to the more likely new location(s). Discussion Evaluation

Minutes, 2nd half of meeting (after the break):

Concerns with current location:

Safety - fast moving bicycles/scooters - bike sheds - corner - no windows

Noise: frequency, intensity, time of day.

Public/private space - are using private spaces for public use.

Sightlines - maximum visibility.

We went outside to look briefly at the setup. Current structure has a 6 foot "fall zone" around it - more in some places

Brainstorm safety solutions:

Put some sort of barrier - bench? hedge? - around the curve Concern is for parents - not a sight line issue, but reaction time issue. Not enough time to grab a kid who goes onto the asphalt out of the way of a kid on a bike or scooter. Barrier to prevent kids from leaving play area and going out onto asphalt. I've almost been hit while trying to cross over with my laundry. "Speed limit" for kids. Use laundry rack location #2 instead of location #1, to keep game room window view open. Low fence with gate around curve- would establish one point of entry/exit.


Brainstorm about noise:

Plant things that will absorb sound. Maybe this isn't such a big concern - may not be as concentrated or severe as people fear. Make agreements about late and early times. This is a general issue too not just a play issue. We know we have to try things. Let's try it, see if it's a concern, and then evaluate. Set up a evaluation meeting now, check back in 6 mos or more to see how its been.

Public/private space issue

A hedge between the A units and play structure More than 1 play area. Reduces noise concentration. Also addresses other concerns. Arbor with grapevines - growing things, not things that just stand there.

If not here, where? And does this address these concerns?

Brainstorm about other possible locations:

South common house green. Detention pond Firepit area/playing field Move part of the garden into the current play structure location, then move play structure between garden and play field. Little corner between Debbi and Rod/Pam's unit On the basketball court.

Discussion about alternate locations and if the same concerns apply

South CH green:

Would need to enclose it to prevent kids from running out into parking lot - equal to need to protect space from pathway. More visible from the CH - a plus, but only if you're in the CH. Not as visible from households with kids. I don't think anyone planned to watch kids from their house - the current location prevents this for people on the west end. The visibility issue has been raised as wanting to be able to see kids while adults hang out in the dining room after dinner. The south green offers more space - I think parents will be accompanying their kids and will need space to sit/hang out. Hot boxes will need to be dealt with - not meant to be climbed on. Would make a statement about our community to put it there. Yes - would have a different aesthetic quality, and I think this would be a little negative. Will younger kids follow older kids who can go into the parking lot? I think it should be on the interior. The CH green is at best transitional. Getting hit by a bike is one thing, getting hit by a car is something else. I think there are problems with visibility and safety with both issues. I hope we can be open enough to not let our personal biases influence the community. No shade on south side, but shade in current location. Current location is in the interior, but what kind of interior is it? Could parents really spend time in current location with it?


Physical continuum check in - asked everyone to get up and stand along a continuum - on one end of room, I love the current location. Other end, I think we should work up another proposal for an alternate location. Middle, neutral. People were bunched along the end of "liking it" or "neutral" and some into "had some concerns", but none at the end of feeling strongly we should make a new proposal and wanting to work further on in that new proposal.

However two people said that current circumstances in their lives prevent them from taking the time to develop an alternative proposal for the play structure location, but they would have chosen that end of the spectrum if they were in a different place.

Clear that this meeting is not going to seek to change the current location, so next step is to get grounds info about what will help with the concerns.

Current location suggestions for grounds.

Need to make area parent friendly as well as kid-friendly. Shade is important. Lots of plants for barrier and sound absorption. Usage guidelines? I say wait for the guidelines - let's see how it goes. All solutions will take time - need patience. I'd like to think more broadly - kids won't use play structure year round. Picnic tables by or near play structure so people could eat out there. Would like parents to work together for watching kids, but still being able to eat dinner. Would like someone to take on noise guidelines for the community - it keeps popping up (was tasked to steering to figure out the next step on that). The play structure is at or above budget. Should add improvements into budget for next year. Need to set a date for an evaluation of the playstructure, how its going . Aesthetics, and maintenance, cleaning up, are something we haven't spent much time on. Will need to address ways to keep the play structure looking good. There will be Touchstone construction that will offset any noise on this side. Grounds has a budget for plants and materials this year. Could divert some of that to this area, and wait to do some other things.

What about basketball court? Judith has begun a process for re-visiting. She is working on a proposal for an alternate location.

Grounds has lots of work to do. If you're interested, please attend committee meetings or email grounds - can have lots of small groups working on things, get more done.

Evaluation:

good as is:

I liked being able to actually look at the area. Like focus group nature - one issue being addressed. (Twinkles) Great that so many people showed up and voiced where they were at. Think we will have a healthier community if we invest in process like this, talking, face to face, through issues. Appreciate thought put into agenda - very effective. Appreciate speaking stick/bear. Liked continuum - moving away from just talking and could see "where the butts line up." Thought we did a good job of listening. Liked continuum. Thought people who came wearing 2 or more hats did really well balancing issues. I was leery about this - could have been very damaging, especially if a minority showed up. We had 20 households represented, which was great - and would have liked more. Liked close nature of this room, but we should have used dining room. It was good that the community "showed up" on several levels - to the problem, to our feelings, to being willing to work together. Impressed with what we accomplished. Loved that meeting was addressed in a way other than e-mail. Snacks! Thanks Tim. Sarah went door to door to announce - applause for Sarah. Thanks to JoshAnn for writing chalk notices about the meeting. Good facilitation

to improve: Not enough teddy bears. We had 20 households represented, which was great - and would have liked more. Liked close nature of this room, but we should have used dining room.