i think everyone in the city would agree with Fairmounters that the charming ball field would sure be a better alternative than some annoying condo developer who wants to come in and bulldoze the park and put up some monstrosity, like other condo buildings in that immediate vicinity, and turn a quick profit.

but would Fairmounters all really oppose the demolition of the field in favour of something cultural and internationally significant like a large art museum, or some other cultural attraction? something that is more in keeping with Philadelphia's "grand boulevard" and something that can benefit all residents of the city as well as national and international tourists and suburbanites. something that adds to the city's overall prestige, etc. would you all still be oppose such a proposition? as someone else said earlier, i really think the ballfields are neat and cool and local and fun, but i havent been convinced (if something culturally important comes along) why the fields would/should be kept.

obviously the barnes will be built (hopefully) on the juvie property, but what if there is something similar in the future?

I'll recycle one of my other posts here (from the thread on my grand scheme to place the Barnes Museum on Rittenhouse Square) which includes the relevant Jane Jacobs quote.

http://phillyblog.com/forum/sutra616...ghlight=#61613

See Jane Jacobs' The Death and Life of Great American Cities, beginning at page 168 in the chapter on "The need for mixed primary uses." Jacobs sees cultural institutions and civic buildings as valuable chess pieces that shouldn't be wasted by concentrating them in designated cultural ghettos.

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Cheers,
Jayfar
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“I am indeed well aware of the history of Conventional (sic) Hall, both globally and locally, and can assure you that we are carefully exploring avenues for its future.” -- Penn President Amy Gutmann 5 days before demolition began.

Londoner:

If you ask a lot of Fairmounters, you'll find there's considerable resentment of the Parkway's presence so close by. Especially on July 4, but also on a number of other occasions, the overflow from events with tens or hundreds of thousands of people gathered on the Parkway makes our neighborhood virtually impossible to park in (not to mention the trash, noise, etc.). My wife and I long ago learned that July 4 was a day on which you should under no circumstances move your car. If you haven't gotten out by the day before, you're basically stuck.

I don't agree with the negative attitude regarding the Parkway - I love having it there - but you need to realize that Fairmounters have a more complicated relationship with the museum district's presence because of its proximity. I know for a fact many neighbors are not thrilled about the prospect of additional cultural institutions bringing even worse traffic and parking. Our CDC is working on a parking study to alleviate some of the worst of these problems. Again, I don't necessarily share these concerns (hey, it's a city - parking shouldn't be our number one concern) but that's the way things play out.

Contrast that to the role that Von Colln Field has played in the lives of thousands of Fairmount kids over the years. I don't think there's a family in the neighborhood whose kids haven't played there at some point. It is widely regarded as a vital neighborhood asset.

So when you ask: Would many Fairmounters really prefer a ball field over a museum? The answer to me is a pretty clear "yes," based on what I've learned about the neighborhood.

All this is an aside, really, but I thought I'd mention it in response to your question.

Let's try to be a little honest on the subject. This argument over those fields has nothing to do with any neighborhood kids. It's about the few elitist people who like having a nice safe park with a great view of the skyline. There is nothing wrong with admitting this.

As I have pointed out already, a ball field exists at the field in front of the lemon hill house. This could easily be a fit for your kids. As to why you aren't even remotely willing to take a look at it, you'll have to tell us. Please, lets stop using your "kids" as pawns. I'm sure if your poor children are forced to use this other field they won't turn out to be crack addicts or anything. It even comes complete with a nice (albeit not perfect) view of CC.

As for the traffic I agree with you. Nothing more should be done with the parkway until traffic is addressed. It is a horrible situation there and adding to it will only further in ruin it for good. I'm sure however if anyone ever done proposed some garages underground or above you'll oppose that too.

BTW, I think you said before somewhere that you moved out of the city and came back a few years later. Did you not know about the traffic or events in this area prior to moving there?

How is it at all elitist to want to have part of the Fairmount Park system stay park land? Parks should not be built on just because property values go up.

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Is this a news report or a trailer for a motion picture?

It's also not a "few" people. Many, many families enjoy this park, people from all over the area.

Look, a number of people from the adjoining neighborhoods have put in many years of sweat equity in this place, cleaning and maintaining the fields, getting the playground and the small structure with storage and snack bar facilities built. These same people put in lots of their own volunteer time to run these sports leagues, which provide fun for kids from all over the city.

Why should they stand idly by and see all that swept away so that some rich suburban developer can come in and build boutiques and million dollar "townmansions" there?

Hi,

I drive by the Lemon Hill park/playground/ballfield that Stinkweed is talking about every day. I am surprised that everyone is having a tough time figuring out where/what it is.

That said, I have to say that it is nowhere near as nice as the Von Colln one.

Lemon Hill has a crappy playground.

Lemon Hill has a crappy baseball diamond.

Lemon Hill has no bleachers.

Lemon Hill has no water fountain for people and pets.

Lemon Hill has a whole lot of (surprise) hilliness to it.

Von Colln is flat and open.

Von Colln has a modern and kid-friendly playground (rubber matting, plastic--as opposed to metal--slides, etc.)

Von Colln has the bathrooms and food counter.

Von Colln is closer to more people, I would argue, since it is really centrally located, whereas Lemon Hill is surrounded largely by the river/river drive. On the other side of Girard (which is to the north of the park), there's a park and playground in Strawberry Mansion which is used by the kids up there.

I'm not saying that the Lemon Hill park area isn't a viable alternative to Von Colln, but to act like it's just as good as it is now, is to be a little naive. As others have said, a lot of time, money, and effort has gone into (and continues to go into it every year) making Von Colln a great place.

There's something extra unique about having a park--an open green space--right in the middle of the city, too. With skyscrapers just blocks away, cars whizzing down the parkway, and the museum in sight, it's a feeling that can't be equaled by Lemon Hill.

My two cents.

So the softball season opened yesterday. We had our first game at the lemon hill field. It is at poplar and sedgley. There seems to be a circus set up in the feild just northwest of the basebal diamond. Does anyone know what this is about? Also, we witnessed what appeared to be open drug selling on sedgley. It was not like this last year. Have things gone on since last year?

Thanks, Douglas. Not surprisingly, I agree.

Stinkweed, what you saw is, I think, this "Spirit - the 7th Fire" show that Scoop mentioned before:

http://phillyblog.com/philly/showthr...ighlight=injun

Not sure what it is, exactly. Haven't looked at the website yet.