Save Texas Drive Park!
Comments
#1
I am a Texas township resident and do not agree with building the town hall building without Texas drive parkErica Penner (Kalamazoo, 2021-03-19)
#2
I oppose this location for the new Township HallLisa Mullins (Texas Township, 2021-03-19)
#7
I am signing this petition against the township takeover that is currently being proposed. As of recent those of us who live near the park had the understanding that this park was getting a facelift with new equipment and that they were actually expanding the park’s purpose but were blindsided by the township when they pulled the wool over our eyes and we’re not honest with their plans or intentions. This park is a family space and it is always in use by young families, teenagers, and even adults who just want a peaceful walk on the path that surrounds the park. To take away this park is a tragedy to our community and it will undoubtably have a negative impact on this very community. Those who attended the meeting proposed different ideas that would best suit the township’s plans but also keep our park as a place for the community to gather/play but unfortunately they fell on deaf ears because no suggestions were taken seriously. It is my hope that the township realizes the error of their ways and either choose a different location within the township or they move the farmer’s market (another community landmark) to be a combination and more appropriate idea to be paired with the current park and to allow space to be expanded on current site for the township hall.Kristen Beers (Kalamazoo, 2021-03-19)
#8
I’m opposed to using the park green space for a village hallAlice Henderson (Kalamazoo, 2021-03-19)
#12
Not one single resident who attended the zoom meeting voiced support of this plan to Build a new Texas township town hall in the existing park boundaries.There is other land available the township can purchase. The township needs to think long-term about the growth of Texas township.
Cassandra Evers (Kalamazoo, 2021-03-19)
#13
Our family loves the park and want to keep as much of the green space as possible. This was a big reason why we moved to Applegate!Sarah Hook (Kalamazoo, 2021-03-19)
#16
I live next to the park and do not wish to see the township hall built there, though I do agree that we need a new hall. Please find another location. Thank you.Julie Knowlton (Kalamazoo, 2021-03-19)
#18
Green space is importantEmily Miller (Kalamazoo, 2021-03-19)
#19
I do not want to see an office building built in Texas Drive Park. Texas Drive Park is one of the reasons we chose to build our home in Applegate Subdivision 16 years ago. It was a great place to take our family to walk, ride bikes, play, etc. without getting on a busy road. Please come up with a different option for the Township offices. A lot of smaller communities have a combined Town Hall/Firehouse buildings. That might be a good option.Karla Kaczmarski (Kalamazoo, 2021-03-19)
#21
That would be an absolute shame to do that on the beautiful Texas drive park. It’s a PARK it shouldn’t be used to build a building when there is an existing building that is just fine. Do something for the community build a better park for all the children that live in Texas corners, don’t be using our money to build a new building because you want to look fancyKristi Miedema (Kalamazoo, 2021-03-19)
#27
Keep green spaces greens. Find another location for the town hall.Lisa Spaans (Kalamazoo, 2021-03-19)
#29
We don’t want our park to have offices. Let it be a park find somewhere else to build. Provide transparency. Also, where are all those upgrades to the park that were happening?Jared Hook (Kalamazoo, 2021-03-19)
#30
NO BUILDING ON THE PARK LAND! This park is walkable and bikeable to numerous neighborhoods in Texas Township. Find another alternative for the 11 employees of the Township!Kerri Menz-Lepley (Kalamazoo, 2021-03-19)
#33
Just because there is virgin land available doesn’t mean you need to rip it apart so you can put your buildings on it. Many people live here because we don’t like living in a concrete forest. Stop forcing Texas Township to become one. This is unnecessary, costly, and negatively impacts the natural components Texas township residents long for. Get over yourselves and if you’re not going to listen to the clear, public outcry, listen to your own reason. This idea should have never even gotten to this point. Why must we always be on defensive with you guys?Jesse Russell (Kalamazoo, 2021-03-19)
#34
I’m signing because it seems unnecessary. Build a second story where you are, but do not take away our park space.Cathi Moore (Kalamazoo, 2021-03-19)
#35
I disagree with placing the township hall on Texas drive park property in any way.James Penner (Texas Township, 2021-03-19)
#36
I want to keep the park space for my kids!Stephanie Robison (Kalamazoo, 2021-03-19)
#39
I am 100% opposed to this location and mostly opposed to the building itself. I was on the call yesterday and it is my strong belieft that they are pushing this through now because of Covid. If in person town halls were allowed there would be 100's of people on site screaming at the top of their lungs to stop this.-I bring my kids to this park all the time, in a post covid world green space is more important than ever and it is shocking they want to build on this properly.
-All this to add 200 square feet for 11 employees? If they need more space 20 years from now in this growing community are they going to expand and take more of the park area? They would have to.....
-Most townhalls are out in the middle of nowhere (schoolcraft, etc...) why does ours need to be in the heart of the city. NOBODY visits the town hall on any regular basis. Much of this business can be conducted virtually and 3.5M is a large price tag.
-Constructions costs are through the roof. This is irresponsible.
I have many reasons to sign this but the board should be ashamed of themselves for pushing this through right now or ever. Find some Commercial property (many are MOTIVATED to sell right now) and build there. Use Eminent Domain to purchase the land West of the current building....FIND SOMETHING ELSE PERIOD.
Barton Nafe (Kalamazoo, 2021-03-19)
#40
We use the field every year as do many others.Cindy Troyer (Kalamazoo, 2021-03-19)
#42
We love this park.Brittany Austin (Kalamazoo, 2021-03-19)
#46
I feel the elected officials were not understanding the principle concerns and there was not enough due diligence was made. Also, this Texas Township Park population density seems to be greater In this area than 6th street.Jim Kiszka (Kalamazoo, 2021-03-19)
#47
I’m signing because my family doesn’t want to see a building in the middle of our beautiful park, the clear lack of planning and due diligence by the board, and an overall disappointing amount of transparency around the process as a whole. More than that, it was crystal clear that, at least some, members of the board didn’t care to hear from the people they represent and are purely focused on self serving interests.Timothy Kennedy (Kalamazoo, 2021-03-19)
#49
We don’t need more buildings! We need green space, nature & places for everyone to play!Wendy Bauer (Kalamazoo, 2021-03-19)
#50
I want to save Texas Drive Park.Karen Lewis (Kalamazoo, 2021-03-19)
#51
We need more park space. Everything should be digital and there should not be a need to have much physical space.Kyle Jasinski (Kalamazoo, 2021-03-19)
#52
I live in the Colony Woods neighborhood. I walk and bike to this park. I do not think it is appropriate use of the park. Families walk and bike to the park and use that ballfield for recreation and practice. It is OUR central park. Township business should be elsewhere in the commercial downtown.Kelly Penskar (Kalamazoo, 2021-03-19)
#57
I’m signing because as a long time resident of Texas Township, I appalled that the township would basically go behind our backs to take away a park that my children have used since they were born and that I pay for with my taxes, to self serve.Marcy Burkett (Kalamazoo, 2021-03-19)
#59
Our family is strongly against this initiative to use Texas Township Park land to build a new township hall. How does it make sense for the Township to spend over $3MM to build a new 10K sq. ft. hall on parkland that adjoins a family neighborhood when they say only 25 people visit the current hall in person weekly? Hundreds of area residents walk, bike and enjoy active family time in that park every day!L Pfeiffer (Texas Township, 2021-03-19)
#62
This appears to be a waste and abuse of township funds.Curtis Dawson (Kalamazoo, 2021-03-19)
#63
Save the park!Kyle Dykgraaf (Kalamazoo, 2021-03-19)
#65
No thanks.Jessica Hewitt (Kalamazoo, 2021-03-19)
#66
Our precious green space should not touched. It’s what we pride Texas Corners on and taking that away is irresponsible.Katherine Roberts (Kalamazoo, 2021-03-19)
#70
Living right on the edge of Texas Township and Portage, we often use this park. It is often full of activity, and I feel this would have a negative impact on the community.Tim Earl (Portage, 2021-03-19)
#72
It is inappropriate to consider taking away any portion of an area used by children in a central location to the township where they can walk and bike to.It is inappropriate to consider spending money on this type of project when in previous meetings you have brushed aside the problem of traffic in and out of the township as not your problem/responsibility. You have brushed aside the issues of children’s class volumes while increasing the population and the township revenue in doing so; as not your problem/responsibility.
This project should not move forward. It was planned in a way that left the residents out and based on the meeting, it was clear you all are attempting to bypass the residents in the area.
Enrique Romero (Kalamazoo, 2021-03-19)
#73
I totally support the effort to keep the park a green space, and urge the commissioners to explore other alternatives.Mark Walsh (Kalamazoo, 2021-03-19)
#78
I played softball on the field. My now husband proposed to me on that field. My 4 children have grown up going to that park and playground. Texas drive park has been a special memory my whole life. When the new park was proposed with a new splash pad, we were really excited. To hear that now the park will be ruined by a parking lot and building was pretty devastating. Please keep this park! It’s important to me, my family, and many many others.Megan Block (Schoolcraft, 2021-03-19)
#83
Texas Drive park needs to stay green and recreational.Lawrence Bancroft (KALAMAZOO, 2021-03-19)
#85
I want to save the baseball field and as much green space as we can have. We use the baseball field all the time and the grass area next to it.Danielle Noe (Kalamazoo, 2021-03-19)
#87
This park needs to stay a park!Cheri Smith (Kalamazoo, 2021-03-19)
#88
I’m signing because I want to save the priceless green space in Texas CornersRuth Harper (Kalamazoo, 2021-03-19)
#95
I am signing because I am opposed to the proposed location of the new Town hall office.Brenda Khoenle (Kalamazoo, 2021-03-19)
#96
Our family loves the baseball field.The kid’s need a safe place to walk to.
We both know the field on 6th street would not be used as much.
Jason Grant (Kalamazoo, 2021-03-19)
#98
I am a fan of the ballpark and I want to be able to use it with my friends.Jackson Kiszka (Kalamazoo, 2021-03-19)
#100
There are other locations to build offices. We need to preserve the current park.James Bateman (Kalamazoo, 2021-03-19)
#108
The park is an essential part of our community. I do not think the Township Building should be built there!The council board should find another location that allows for future growth and leave the green space where it is.
Margaret L Bateman (Kalamazoo, MI 49009, 2021-03-19)
#110
We use the green space at the park and don’t want to see it go. We can bike to this park, and won’t to 6th St.Kaycee Anderson (Schoolcraft, 2021-03-19)
#112
We love this park and do not want to see it go!Steffane Hogg (Kalamazoo, 2021-03-19)
#116
This park is amazing and my kids love to rest there after a cycle ride. It has been a godsend during covid and it would be sad to see a lovely open space taken by yet another building when there are plenty of other places you could build.Maggie Hesketh (Portage, 2021-03-19)
#118
The park should remain a park.Find another spot for the building.
I live in Texas Township.
Jay Meeker (kalamazoo, 2021-03-19)
#119
The park is used extensively by residents. It should not be used for government buildings.Paul Stinavage (Kalamazoo, 2021-03-19)
#121
I feel strongly that this park should remain an open green space for families to enjoy. I also appreciate that my son can ride his bike to the park to play or practice baseball, safely using the trails from our neighborhood to the park. If you relocate the ball field, he won’t be able to do this any more. In addition, there is already way too much development off of Texas drive & would completely change the landscape of our community.E. Ann Heskett (Kalamazoo, 2021-03-19)
#123
I refuse to let the Texas Township elite take away this awesome park😡Tryggvi Thorhallsson (Kalamazoo, 2021-03-19)
#124
Texas drive park is a vital park of our township and our children development. Loosing green space to a building will be a detriment to our community. We need a better park so our children can spend more time outdoorsJuliana Kovacs (Kalamazoo, 2021-03-19)
#125
I'm signing because my family loves this park and it would be a shame to lose the use of this land for play.Keri Stuart (Portage, 2021-03-19)
#128
This location was never mentioned as an option for a new building, until recently. We do not have any promises that the township will hold up their promise for improved programming at the Texas Drive Park. More thought needs to go into this massive undertaking and the detriment it would cause to home owners property prices. While the assessor said their home value will not go down, real estate agents claim they do. While the 6th Street park is lovely, it can’t take the place of what has become the traditional meeting space and location for families and friends within the downtown area. It’s eco friendly and the amount of money you would spend to make a bike path out to 6th Street, might be better served purchasing land for the new township building.Barbara Conboy (Kalamazoo, 2021-03-19)
#131
We use the green space. Please do not approve this use of the park!!Kristopher Anderson (Schoolcraft, 2021-03-19)
#136
Texas Drive Park is an essential part of our community. Several activities take place there, almost each month of the year! It would be unethical to take any piece of it for a building, especially when this pandemic has proved to us that administrative business can be handled from home! Plus, we already have a township hall, it would be ridiculous to build a new one. Also, something about this tells me someone will be profiting off this endeavor, making it even less ethical to take up land from a free-to-use, community park for children and families.Emma Kite (Kalamazoo, 2021-03-19)
#141
It’s our neighborhood, our township. Youth and families needs this space.Chris Schumacher (Kalamazoo, 2021-03-19)
#142
I feel the baseball field at the Texas Drive park is something used by many families and I myself had planned on using it with my son this summer. We can walk or ride bikes to this park and would hate to see it go when the new 6th street park is father away from us and we won’t be using it often.Erica Hakala (Kalamazoo, 2021-03-19)
#150
As a resident of Texas Township I oppose the use of our park land for building a new city hall. Bigger is not always better and that is how I feel bout our quaint farmers market. We moved here because of the small town feel.Please do not ruin that.
Gary Solomons (Kalamazoo, 2021-03-19)
#152
I do not oppose the building; I oppose the location.James Conboy (Kalamazoo, 2021-03-19)
#153
We need to keep our park the way it is and not waste tax money on a new buildingJames Holbert (Kalamazoo, MI, 2021-03-19)
#155
All 3 of my kids use this field to practice and we play kids vs mom & dad. We live in Texas Heights and do not have room to do this in our yard so I cant imagine not having the field at the park!Gabrielle Seward (Kalamazoo, 2021-03-19)
#156
I'd rather keep the park for my family and neighbors. We don't need a new town hall and certainly not a larger parking lot.Aaron Wheadon (Texas, 2021-03-19)
#162
My family and many community members use the ball field at the park every spring/summer/fall. Taking it away without an immediate replacement should not be an option.Emily Beck (Kalamazoo, 2021-03-19)
#163
I take my grandson to this park because it’s in his neighborhood and is walkable for this 74 year old grandma. Go find an alternate location and leave this park alone!Heidi Reeves (Kalamazoo, 2021-03-19)
#166
The board needs to listen to its citizens and find a more suitable and agreeable place to move the township hall. Listen to the people you are representing, it is in your job description!Susan Moore (Texas township Kalamazoo, 2021-03-19)
#167
I do not agree with the location chosen by the township board. The park is heavily used by residents of all ages. We do not need another building and parking lot taking up valuable green space!!!Elizabeth Hardham (Kalamazoo, 2021-03-19)
#171
I enjoy the open space and park with my family. It is one of the main reasoms we moved here.Melissa Baker (KALAMAZOO, 2021-03-19)
#174
Our community needs more park area not more parking lotsMegan Belen (Kalamazoo, 2021-03-19)
#175
Because I lived in Kalamazoo for two years, I’ve grown memories with the kids that I’ve work for (I worked at a daycare) in that city.Kaleadress Upshaw (Warren, 2021-03-19)
#178
I am opposed to the township building a new township hall on the space of the existing Texas drive park. This is a public park utilized by a large number of residents of the region, especially Applegate And the surrounding neighborhoods. As such, it should remain a park and not be turned into another parking lot and building.John Hardham (Kalamazoo, 2021-03-19)
#180
Our elected officials are not listening to their voters/community.Andrea Walsh (KALAMAZOO, 2021-03-19)
#182
I may not be a citizen of Texas Township, but Texas Drive Park is still part of the wider community, used by people throughout the county. Not only do people in Texas Township oppose this proposal, but so do those of other nearby communities, who frequently use the park for recreation. When determining the location of a townhall, the town and ALL its people should be taken into consideration. I urge the board members to reconsider this proposal and consider a new location or renovating the current townhall.Nathan Gerhard (Portage, 2021-03-19)
#197
I love Texas drive park, I practically grew up there 😢Deez Nuts (Portage, 2021-03-19)
#200
This location will bring seasonal high traffic volume to what is currently a safe and active pedestrian hotspot for our community. Such an action would heighten safety risks for our children, as well as significantly reduce the useable green space in our most popular park. Please consider to purchase the parcel across from the car wash & Credit Union on Centre ave downtown, and proceed to phase in a multi-year building plan to amortize the costs against our rapidly growing population over the near term.Matt Briden (Kalamazoo, 2021-03-19)