I would like to least the Lot behind my house for a garden & to plant flowers & some trees (fruits). The fruits tree would be sweet Ch[??] pear, maybe some other fruit trees. I wouldn't plany any apple tree because there are so many in town now.Mr. Long includes these two maps (agenda packet, pp. 10–11) of his plans:
In return I would keep up the lot & keep it clean & weed free. I would also mow the grass too.
I have already mark were I would like it. I know it is a "no" building zone. That means no building or fence up around it. intead I would like to put up some lilic bush & other bush around it for the property line. I will give you an idea what it would look like & what I am planning on doing to it. In return it would go back to the city of Madison, when I died or pass away. I would also would like it to stay as is when I pass away.Thank youMr. Daniel Long
No points off for spelling this morning: I say A+ idea, Mr. Long!
My wife and I took Madville Times Jr. urban hiking last night, and our hike included North 7th Street and Josephine Avenue. Mr. Long's proposed garden spot is part of a two-block-by-two-clock chunk of flood plain, mostly bought up and de-developed by the city after the big 1993 flood. We thought this land would make a spectacular park. The city could easily weave a great maze of walking paths through this lovely green space, complete with a couple footbridges over the creek. The park could connect to Memorial Park and, ultimately, to a city-wide greenway system, a network of trails that would run the length of the city along every major watercourse and connect to trails to Lakes Herman and Madison:
Image from Joel Quanbeck, Ulteig Engineers, Inc.,
"Chapter 6—Parks, Recreation & Public Facilities," [PDF alert!]
Madison Comprehensive Plan, p. 56, Figure 6-5. Posted 2008.04.29.
This city-spanning greenway would give locals and visitors alike recreational routes that would take them well away from our busy thoroughfares on leafy meandering trails that would provide a welcome break from the rigid grid typical of prairie towns. A garden like that proposed by Mr. Long could constitute one of many destinations along such a greenway, little landmarks of nicely tended outdoor beauty that everyone can appreciate.
Mr. Long's request doesn't mention a lease price. If he's willing to do all that work to make another corner of Madison more beautiful, the City Commission should let him work the land for free. Include room for a rec path and a bench or two alongside the garden, and we've got a winner of a deal, for everybody in Madison.
Great idea!
ReplyDeleteThe bike path out here in rapid runs along a creek for a large amount which keeps riders off of busy roads. Additionally, it connects many of the city's existing parks together. If they would just throw in a few north/south routes I wouldn't need to slow down the vehicle traffic when riding!
The bike path in Sioux Falls is also quite nice.
CAH, what do you think is the biking population currently in Madison? We have the black hills mountian biking association out here that sponsors trail improvement and helped get a bike part built just this year. In addition they put together many weekly rides and excusions out to the hills. Since its conception the riding population has realy expanded.
The power of numbers would certainly be a nice tool to get the Madison city commission on the right track.
I am interested to see how this plays out, I have run the idea of community gardens on the flood plains and have had mixed results. Perhaps this is the motivation I have been looking for (if driving 10 miles round trip to visit my garden isn't enough).
ReplyDeleteTony: You slow down traffic? I thought with that bike and those legs, you'd be outpacing all the four-wheelers! ;-)
ReplyDeleteMadison's bike population: good question! We have some hard-core riders (Pastor Terry, Pastor Daryl, Scott Parsley,... anyone care to add to the list?). Maybe more importantly, I'm seeing a few more bikes just going to the grocery store and doing other daily errands. Promoting that daily use with good connecting routes is as important as serving the pure recreation crowd -- maybe more so in terms of getting taxpayer support.
Biking, community gardens, picnic space -- these great strips of greenspace spanning our city could become great places for community gathering, for work, play, and rest. Let's do it!
I hope the City decides with caution as the Madison Sex Offender List shows a person by the name of Daniel Patrick Long of 704 North Josephine Avenue as a Registered Sex Offender, convicted in Hutchinson County of First Degree Rape. Is this the same person?
ReplyDeleteCome on, Anon -- the guy wants to plant some trees and flowers. If this is the same Mr. Long you're talking about, at least he wants to do some good for the community. Let him.
ReplyDeleteMaybe time for a little guerilla gardening?
ReplyDelete