This morning we received a telephone call from an individual who attended the Central Baltimore Partnership meeting last evening at St. Marks Lutheran Church on St. Paul Street. At that meeting she learned that Johns Hopkins University and the Baltimore City Public Schools endered into an agreement involving Margaret Brent Elementary and Middle School and under this partnership the refurbished basketball court would be torn down and moved. As you know we reported earlier the success we had with the City in getting the basketball court newly refurbished to the delight and enjoyment of our neighborhood.
The playground was dedicated in the 1970's by then Councilwoman Clarke as the "26th Street Playground" and it was for the community as a whole.
One side of the 26th Street Playground consisted of a basketball court being constructed and used by the community for many years, but it needed to be refurbished which was accomplished last year. On the other side of the playground was a section that had swings and other play equipment for the children of this community which the City refurbished just a few years ago.
This playground is not part of Margaret Brent Elementary and Middle School, but sits on leased property owned now by CSX Railroad, which in purchasing the property owned previously by the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad has become now the owner of this property. The property currently is on lease and has been for decades to the City of Baltimore and unless there is now an agreement to change the property from the City of Baltimore to Baltimore City Public School's jurisdiction, which if this has happened did occur in some secret negotiations not known by the community.
Why would one reasonably destroy a newly refurbished basketball court that is being enjoyed continuously by the community and move it to WHERE? Why would you want to take from the residents of this community their "playground"? Who approved this? When the CVCA started calling the neighborhood playground the Margaret Brent playground I reminded a member of the CVCA, Ms. Sharon Guida, that it was not the Margaret Brent playground but the "26th Street Playground", to which she responded, "I know, but the CVCA wants to call it that." I couldn't stop her from calling it by that name but I registered my complaint to the Homewood Community Partnership Coordinator, My Joseph McNeeley, at which meeting this discussion took place.
Let us not destroy the only basketball court we have in Charles Village as it represents a respite for our children and adults and let's put a stop to the constant attempt to destroy something that is very important to this community. To destroy this source of athletic and social interaction in this community will do the community, both children and adults, much harm.
At the meeting I went to about this they showed us a plan where the courts remain but they will be minimizing the space between the two courts and perhaps moving the courts over a few feet to make room for the new space they're putting there but they definitely will still have the basketball courts there.
ReplyDeleteWe also attended a meeting where Greater Homewood Community Corporation was attempting to change the size of the basketball court last year. At that meeting we expressed to this foundation and to the Principal of Margaret Brent that the children wanted the basketball court just as it was originally designed for the community. We were pleased that the City upgraded and refurbished the court this last year which has meant that the community now has a wonderful place for our children and adults to play. There is only one basketball court at the 26th Street Playground, not two courts and not the recently coined "Margaret Brent playground" and to change what has been accomplished would be a shame to the taxpayers of this City and to the community as a whole. There is more than enough space in the playground area of the playground to play any game that children would want, although for some reason this year some group is bringing large numbers of children to play in the basketball court rather than in the playground section designed for these children. Why is the basketball court always threatened when obviously it is supported daily by the community? This basketball court is what the community, which attends Margaret Brent and those who reside in Charles Village want and now that it has been refurbished presents a wonderful play area for the neighborhood.
ReplyDeleteSome years ago some adults were playing basketball in the court and, because it is located right on St. Paul St., when they heard a woman screaming as she was being attacked by a man on St. Paul St. those same basketball players saw what was happening and rushed to her defense. People who attended earlier meetings on the basketball court where some discussions were about closing the court were so grateful for the presence of the basketball players at that location that they said they would never choose to change it.
ReplyDeleteWhat ever any good reason would there be for removing, moving or decreasing the size of such a perfect facility for inner city people, young and older, to exercise and have fun. We Charles Villagers live in the inner-city, not the suburbs with large baseball, football land soccer ball areas. Why does anyone want to deny us, particularly the children, of a space that this basketball court provides, as it now is. Is there some prejudice against the game? I am sure our President Obama would be happy to join our children and adults in a game in the wonderful basketball court Charles Village now has. Why take any of it away?