THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, April 21, 1996 TAG: 9604200125
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 26 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BILL LEFFLER, CURRENTS SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Medium: 77 lines
READERS HAVE SPOKEN. And they seem to be overwhelmingly in favor of improvements at Portsmouth City Park, particularly in sports facilities.
Only a single caller to the Currents Sports Infoline was opposed to an idea that the park could become a major sports and entertainment complex for Portsmouth.
Thelma Cross, who lives in the Lake Forest area, rates the park as adequate already, needing only tables and benches along the waterfront.
Said Cross: ``I disagree with the idea of turning City Park into a sports and entertainment complex. It is already a sports and entertainment area. But what you will be doing is turning it into a monstrous sports and entertainment area. I would recommend that you upgrade the existing conditions, including placing tables, benches and trees up and down the waterfront.
``Too much can result in too many people, and once again you will see a flight of people. I enjoy it as it is. I play golf there all the time. It's peaceful. Too many people - you know the problem.''
Margaret Estes spoke out in favor of improving the park but was opposed to any alterations of the golf course.
``I don't think they should do anything to upset the golf course. But it seems that it certainly is worthwhile to get a major program started there.''
Richard Lawrence, who lives in the Hodges Ferry area, supports the idea of expanding fishing and crabbing at City Park.
``I'm all for making that bay into a crab place or whatever,'' he said. ``Crabbing, fishing and all that good stuff. Portsmouth is way behind in doing things like that.''
Mary DeLosIeyes of Simonsdale also would like to see fishing and crabbing piers. ``In fact, I wrote a letter to the editor about five years ago suggesting that they leave the City Park bridge up for foot and bike traffic and crabbing and fishing. So I think it's a wonderful idea. We need something like that in Portsmouth. We don't have anything.''
The addition of a swimming pool is recommended by Carroll Jones of North Park Manor.
``I'm in favor of doing something with City Park and I would like to see a nice-size swimming pool in that area. My other thought is why light the tennis courts if they're going to close the park at dark anyway? The lights don't do any good.''
Robert Strother of Cradock would like to see a marina and restaurant at City Park. ``I think that idea is great,'' he said. ``I remember a lot about that proposal. I remember when I was much younger the start of the zoo that never materialized. I was very disappointed in that.
``I would love to see the marina and the restaurant - most especially the marina. I know it would bring in a lot of good revenue for the city and it would bring enjoyment to me. It would be a place I would very much consider docking my vessel.''
The entire redevelopment plan proposed by George Hanbury when he was city manager in the early 1980s is called ``a wonderful idea'' by Margaret Richards of Park Manor. ``The redevelopment plan is just wonderful,'' she said. ``I would hope the city would go through with it. And I'm a taxpayer.''
Among the anonymous callers was a Park Manor resident who said taxpayers ``have paid to have City Park redone three times since we've lived here. Stop spending money on City Park and do something for our neighborhoods. They do need to put some real sand over there for the little children to play in instead of muddy dirt.''
A young caller from Ida Barbour wanted more facilities at City Park ``because there aren't that many places to go for kids to have fun.''
Several callers offered no suggestions for changes but spoke in favor of making City Park a major sports and entertainment complex, several with a desire for a restaurant there. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MARK MITCHELL
One reader would like to see more tables and benches along the
waterfront in City Park. Others want a marina and fishing and
crabbing piers.
by CNB