Recently the Decatur Park District voted to close the Nelson Park Golf Course – Decatur’s oldest golf course. Budget issues, lack of player interest, and maintenance issues were the reasons given for the closure. However, it’s no secret that community leaders have been eying Nelson Park for a while for possible commercial and residential development. Many residents are worried that their input will fall on deaf ears; they have good reason to feel that way.
Thousands protested the closure of Stephen Decatur High School; it closed anyway. Hundreds of residents, on the north end of town, protested the Target development, which required the demolition of Mound Middle School and Sunnyside School; the schools were torn down and replaced with a department store and other retail establishments. Many were opposed to the expensive West Main improvements; they happened anyway. Granted, it’s hard to find 100% agreement amongst voters, but when it’s obvious the vast majority of Decatur’s residents oppose a particular action by either our city council or park district, our elected officials should stop and listen. They may learn something. That’s what representative government is all about. Yes, there’s times when our elected officials have to approve unpopular things – like tax hikes, initiatives related to public safety, etc.; however, if the Letters to the Editor, in the Herald & Review, are any indication, few if any residents supported the total closure of the Nelson Park golf course. Just as many are worried about possible development that will consume the entire park.
The Park District has stated the land will remain mowed and accessible to the public. My question: how is this going to save money for the Park District (us taxpayers) ? The costs to mow so much land has to be considerable. In the end, could it be possible that we’ll lose even more money by closing the golf course? At least while it remained open to golfers, it brought in revenue.
At least voters will have some say in the fate of Nelson Park. Because of state and U.S. Department of Interior restrictions, the land cannot be sold without a referendum. I’m interested in possibilites for the site; I’d just like to be part of the decision process – like the rest of Decatur’s residents, whether or not we are elected officials, developers, or just lowly voters.
I’m no golfer but I do realize how a near by golf course brings up property values. And even for us non-golfers they are attractive. Both Champaign and Bloomington have some large golf courses (country clubs I believe) WITH IN the city instead of only on the edge like we are moving toward. It also concerns me that almost all of the land surrounding the Lake Decatur is currently private development, very little is public. I want to see what land we have as public KEPT public.
I also completely disagree with consolidating so much of our public resourses in one small part of town – by Millikin – and from what I’ve heard that is the plan for the replacement for the Nelson pool.
Funny I remember when Steve Garman proposed a nine-hole golf course in the Walbash Crossing area – which you would see as you drove across the Water St viaduct – I thought this was a GREAT idea – assuming we were actually serious about redeveloping this area – but he was booed out of the ballpark – it was obvious at that time – pre – Redtail – other plans were in play.
It does make one wonder if making any suggestions at all, as a resident of Decatur, is worthwhile. If plans are already in place, of which the vast majority of us, are unaware of, we might as well be talking to a wall.
Personally, I think our park district board should resign for mismanaging our park facilities. It’s obvious that they failed to maintain Nelson Park properly -from the golf course to the pool. We all pay hefty park district property taxes to ensure our existing facilities are kept up. They failed to do that; instead they’ve focused on places like Hickory Point, which, by the way, benefits Forsyth more than Decatur. The majority of those golfers stay at Forsyth’s hotels, eat at Forsyth’s restaurants, and shop at Forsyth’s stores. I’m not saying Decatur doesn’t benefit at all from Hickory Point, but wouldn’t it make more sense to focus more energy on the golf course that’s actually inside Decatur? It could spur economic development, and revitalize areas that actually need it.
I’m not opposed to Red Tail. It could help encourage development. At least, as far as I know, another community wouldn’t reap the benefits, it our expense.
I would prefer the vast majority of Nelson Park to remain public land, but I wouldn’t mind some development in the Chandler Park area, and some improvements near the lake. I nice lodge, beach, bike trails, restaurants, docks, boat ramps, piers, etc. wouldn’t bother me – as long as we don’t get carried away. I’d even consider allowing residential development on some of the golf course land – not condos, but single family affordable housing. I wouldn’t mind living there. But I don’t think that’s the plan. It’s probably McMansions and condos. Though in today’s economic climate, McMansions are probably beasts of the past.
Kris, the entire east side is already full of small homes within walking distance of Nelson that would be perfect for young professionals if we can just find a way to bring up the neighborhoods. I think a golf course that was taken care of and pool could have been a real plus. The little neighborhood that rises over the Lake and St Mary’s there – take drive around that sometime – The little area right by Eisenhower is just blocks from Nelson and Chandler. The houses are selling for a fairly cheap. My mom’s best friend finally left her home of many many years in that area and moved to a small town due TOTALLY to being fed up with trashy drug dealing neighbor problems. And the houses are not that old yet or in that bad of shape over all. Or the house you looked at Cantrell (with the bullet hole) think how close that is to Nelson. It’s the crime and the nastestness and disrepect that rules in the innercity that makes it undesirable and that area is inner-city. Nelson park folks are fighting it as are the Lions park folks. I think a bike trail that ran from Nelson past EHS and past Lions to Jasper park and around the lake would be great but the only area IN the core that the park district wants to spend ANY money is Millikin area. At least that is what I believe. I saw my area of little houses start to head toward an area that young professionals could start out and then all of a suddent it went down hill fast…. Take a drive to Champaign and check out the neighborhood parks over there in the city core….. Same with Bloomington. Those who say OUR inner city is just like any other around are delusional. Those neighborhoods are VERY mixed income. Especially due ot students. They do NOT always make the best neighbors without some tough enforcement.
Sue, you make a lot of good points; and I agree with you on Nelson Park’s surrounding neighborhoods. There are a lot of cute little houses there. The crime is a total shame. That area is perfect for the city to really zero in on and make upgrades. It’s a desirable location. The only reason that I would go for some new neighborhood development in the Nelson Park area is because I think it would help revitalize the older neighborhoods around it. The area that I’m thinking of is across from the miniature golf course on the corner of Lake Shore and Cantrell? I hope those are the right street names….That area would be a good place for some new small but attractive homes.
I certainly wouldn’t want to lose too much of our park, but if done right, it would be a very attractive place to live. I just don’t want to see huge, pricey homes. Since it’s public land now, I want as much of the public as possible to be able to afford to live there, if a new neighborhood were developed. It would be great for senior citizens and families.
The reason I know these neighborhoods is the kids stuff we do. I’m always picking kids up ALL over town – I had to find a house in the area south of Cantrell that over looks St Marys and Nelson. I’ve picked them up in Walbash Crossing over in Fans Field on E. Division, south of Decatur St and west of Monroe. The different kids that continue to help us although they’ve moved out of our neighborhood and the friends they invite just take me ALL OVER town the older areas especially EVERY SATURDAY SPRING TO FALL and some of the winter as well!! That is why I noticed the herbicided lots ALL OVER TOWN!! I really think taking the park land away as land will hurt these value of these areas. I’ll tell you a pretty area that COULD be nice as well: south of Johns Hill Park. Or also check out the neighborhood east of MLK and north of LSD…. WHAT A WASTE!!
I NOT believe that removing golf courses and swimming pools and adding more houses in an area that just blocks away can’t sell the houses we have will bring up the surrounding property values. Now it is not like I would not support ANY development. Some little shops may be cool at the Chandellor end and not exactly lake front – farther back – so long as the land REMAINS PUBLIC. And if you have EVER walked the lake front along Nelson in the summer you know along the boat docks you have many many fishermen and it stinks from the fish. BUT this recreation – fishing and boating – ARE VERY IMPORTANT as well….. I’m afraid as usual we have a group of “father knows best” powerful city fathers who will bulldoze these quiet fishermen who daily meditate along our lakefront right on out of this area…
Now at one point I saw a visioning that included a fake lake (pool at the lake edge) and ferry that would go between Scovill and Nelson. I think this stuff is cool! And that type of “development” I WOULD support. I mean development of recreation opportunities at Nelson.
I would only want a small percentage of the current golf course to become residential, if it were to happen at all. I totally understand your concerns. I’m a tree hugger myself.
I drove by the golf course last week, and a lot of it is so hilly, I don’t know how houses could be built there without destroying the landscape. That’s why I picked the flattest corner near already existing neighborhoods. I like the idea of the 9-hole golf course myself. It seems reasonable to me. Or utilize the land in a way similar to Fairview Park. Put out some picnic tables, build some pavilions, make some walking/bike trails, etc. Are we going to spend thousands of dollars a year to mow all that grass for the squirrels? I also want to see the swimming pool repaired. I worry like you do about what is in the minds of our “city fathers”. I want to know what they’re thinking of. What kind of development? Where? How much?
Prior to the park board announcing the budget problems at Nelson, I had no idea they were thinking about development on the golf course. I thought it was focused on the Chandler park area and along the waterfront. It’s obvious that there’s “plans”, “ideas”, or whatever we want to call them for the rest of Nelson. I just want the park board to come to community and talk about it.
I worry like you do about what is in the minds of our “city fathers”. I want to know what they’re thinking of. What kind of development? Where? How much?
-Kris
Kris (Sue),
That makes at least three of us !
Decatur City Government and agencies need Sunshine…Clear transparent sunshine… is the best “disinfectant$”.
Eric K. Johnson