Naked City
Town Lake Park: Hold, Please
By Amy Smith, Fri., Sept. 5, 2003
Akers, a veteran parks advocate and observer of city projects placed on interminable hold, fears that "two years" could easily turn into 10 or 20. In a joint letter to Mayor Will Wynn and the City Council, Akers and Friends of the Park President Karen Cannatti asked why parks, libraries, and social services have to take massive financial hits while the Convention Center and Palmer will lose "only 1.7%" of its staff. "How can they manage that?" Akers and Cannatti asked and immediately answered: "By latching on to the funding dedicated to constructing Town Lake Park." Or, as Akers told the Chronicle, "Why should they economize if they've got a sugar daddy?"
At press time, Akers and other Friends members were meeting with City Manager Toby Futrell to try and dissuade her from postponing the Town Lake project. But the budget-approval clock is ticking -- the council will seal the new budget at special meetings next week (Sept. 8-10). For now, it's hard to tell when Phase Two in all of its glory -- an interactive fountain, a children's garden, an idyllic meadow -- will finally materialize. For now, Akers is willing to hold his breath in anticipation. "It'll be really, really beautiful, if it's ever built," he said.
Got something to say on the subject? Send a letter to the editor.