KELLY WRIGHT/THE LANTERNJack Lundberg, a member of the Friends of Duranceaux Park, shows details of an alternative plan to build a boathouse for the Ohio State rowing team. Members of the group feel that the current plan is not in the best interest of the park, city or university because of poor planning.Most members of the Friends of Duranceaux Park, a group that opposes the proposed boathouse construction in North Columbus, say they learned about the plans when they were invited to a planning discussion in March.
“We all believe the [Greater Columbus Rowing Association] and OSU should have adequate facilities,” said Jack Lundberg, a member of the Friends of Duranceaux Park. “Contrary to popular belief, this group does support the boathouse.”
Lundberg and other members of FODP met at the Columbus Metropolitan Library Tuesday for a press conference to discuss the new boathouse.
Despite Lundberg’s support, the Friends of Duranceaux Park propose building the boathouse elsewhere. Among a variety of reasons, the group argues that construction in Duranceaux Park goes against the 1995 Griggs Management Plan. The agreement states that if public land is for sale, any purchase should be scrutinized and reviewed and park users must be notified.
“The public should be involved in the process,” Lundberg said.
Lundberg said that the opposition has been underrepresented in recent town hall-style meetings, with OSU and the Columbus Recreation and Parks Department getting unlimited time to make their case, despite the opposition’s limit to 18 minutes.
Another concern is the fact that the boathouse could be rented for private parties and receptions.
“They could be renting it up to 400 people per weekend,” said Meleesa Hunt, a member of FODP.
She is worried that such parties could facilitate drinking and driving, endangering children who play on the nearby playground.
“Children are frequently going across the road,” Hunt said. “It’s the first thing by the lots.”
Mollie O’Donnell, planning administrator for the CRPD, said that her organization is still unsure about the possibility of renting the boathouse.
“It’s a program issue,” she said. “We have an entire year to work with the neighbors. Alan McKnight is willing to sit down and take it off the table.”
Safety is already a concern at the park, some say, and new traffic would only exacerbate the problem.
“You have to protect yourself as is,” Hotz said. “Just the other day I had to step four feet in the grass to avoid a car.”
According to a CRPD document, plans to create improved paths for pedestrian safety are included in construction plans.
But O’Donnell argues that the boathouse would not draw more traffic.
“We do not anticipate an increase,” she said, but admitted that rentals could cause a minor increase in traffic.
According to a document from the CRPD, traffic studies conducted in the summer of 2008 determined that traffic would not increase. Still, planners would still consider widening main roads around the boathouse.
“The City will consider these future improvements with public input,” according to the document.
Despite the opposition, members of the FODP say they appreciate OSU’s cooperation and funding.
“We think it’s generous that OSU has basically said, ‘Here’s a check, how much should I write it for?'” Lundberg said. “Ben Jay even said, ‘Money is not a problem, safety is.'”
Everdeen Mason can be reached at [email protected].
