A Lakefront Discussion
It’s been a busy May and I haven’t had time to comment much on the lakefront development ideas out there but I finally got a little time this morning, so here we go! I went to the last meeting earlier this month. I missed some of the meeting but I did get to take an up-close and personal look at the plans and hear some of the discussion.
It’s down to two plans, the Arboretum Village and the Adventure Fitness Concept. Both plans have residential development, however the arboretum has considerably more residential development to help finance the project, since the gardens wouldn’t be a big money generator. This includes two-story residential units with parking underneath; each would contain 4 units per building. Four 8-10 story apartment building would be constructed. The adventure plan would have two 3 story residential/commercial buildings in the core of Nelson Park. Chandler Park would feature a 3-story residential village. A pond would be created in the center of the village but not connected to the lake. Both plans feature an indoor/outdoor waterpark, wave pool and an expanded 36 hole mini-golf course, however the adventure plan also calls for a white water rapids course, climbing walls, boardwalk with outdoor dining, cross country race course, urban mountain biking/running trails and a high rope course.
After looking over the plans, I think the adventure concept is superior in many ways. One, it has the potential to truly generate considerable income for the city. Its attractions would be more likely to draw visitors from the Midwest. A more passive, conservative plan will have to rely much more on residential development, which I’m still not crazy about. To me, Nelson Park will always be a park and its purpose should be to improve the quality of life for all Decatur residents – not just those who can afford to purchase a home along its shores or purchase a boat to enjoy an upgraded marina. I want to be able to park, get out of my car and walk along a public shore on public land or a public boardwalk. So much of the lake is already residential. I don’t see the need for more unless it caters to people of more modest incomes of all ages.
Something that greatly concerns me about either plan is that the only parts that are sure to be completed are the residential development. Decatur was promised a water park before. We paid for a road to help facilitate such a project that never materialized. Call me skeptical but Decatur’s been burned before. I want it in writing that before any residential development can take place it has to coincide with the construction of other project plans – especially the water park. No phased stages that may never happen. All or nothing and all at once. I can live with a modest tax increase if that will ensure the entire plan approved materializes in a timely manner.
That being said, I am very much excited about the adventure-fitness concept. It looks wonderful! If I lived in another city and saw a brochure for Decatur with such attractions, I’d be paying Decatur a visit. It pushes much of the residential development to Chandler Park, which currently isn’t utilized much by the public. The other residential features in the Nelson Park area are more acceptable to me.
Take a look at the plans and don’t forget to send your comments and suggestions to the lakefront team!
June 7th, 2010 at 6:09 pm
The next meeting, which I believe is to unveil the plan, is scheduled for mid-July, so you still have time to send your comments.
I went and played mini-golf at Nelson Park with my family yesterday and I was shocked at how badly the course has been maintained. I’m assuming the plan is to rip it all out and put in new? It’s really been allowed to go to seed, literally, for the past few years. It’s quite sad. I hope one of the first projects is a new mini-golf course at the same location.