MacKay Park:What Does the Future Hold for Our Park?

The City Council recently voted to spend $18,000 

for a study to determine what will make MacKay Park better.

MacKay Park was designed by Donald MacKay. 

He gave it to the people of Englewood as a Christmas gift in 1906...

..."1906 Christmas gift to the City of  Englewood was a large tract of land in the Fourth Ward to be used as a Park. MacKay purchased this land from W.W. Phelps. This entrance includes the only remaining (of six) Phelps gatehouse. Later, more land was added to the Park. In his will MacKay bequeathed $10,000.00 for maintenance..." Images of  America: Englewood and Englewood Cliffs

The Park has undergone a lot of changes NOT in MacKay's plan.
More change is coming.
Decisions are going to be made.
Do you want to be part of the change?
This is a chance for you to have your say.
What do you think will make YOUR MacKay Park better?

What would make you and your family want to get more use out of our Park?

Here are some of my thoughts on the fly...What are yours?

• We must begin with a clean slate: No discussion of the Master Plan
• Let us have true dialog that is not directed by the Mayor or anyone else.
• Re-install the bridges
• Reassess the idea of locking off the Elmore Ave. gate
• Turn the gatehouse into a Museum of Englewood History making it an educational institution.
• Reattach the small Park Area on Elmore Avenue to the Park creating a sitting area for Elmore Avenue residents. Install an attractive footbridge into the Park. (Many people do not even know that this build-able lot is actually part of MacKay Park
• Replace the grills
• Repair bathroom facilities in Arena, pool area and picnic area
• Repair water fountains
• Redo the lighting design
• Make the Arena a year round facility that serves the entire community
• Allow more use of the park by Englewood residents
• Post signage as to when play by Englewood's children is not just allowed, but encouraged. (This is required anyway.)
• Post signage with positive messages
• Create a garden area
• Listen to the MacKay Park Legacy Committee with more serious ears. They cared about the Park before anyone else was paying attention.
• Movies in the Park
• Band shell with music in the Park

What are some of your ideas? No one will ever know what you want if you stay at home.

Come out the way you did for the first Master Plan Meeting. If we do not continue to have our say, our ideas will always be ignored.

...And how are the children?