Virginia Park Neighborhood Association

At the May 16th meeting, the following list of items for Community Investment Tax (CIT) Funding consideration was composed by the members present. Several of the items may not fall within the scope of the CIT funding, but I've included each item added to the list and will ask Ms. Julie Harris (Neighborhood Liaisons Office) to determine which items would be considered for appropriation. Please send me an e-mail (beta_40@yahoo.com) with your prioritized list of the items so that I may combine the reponses and present Ms. Harris with a composite list on May 25th. If you would like to add any other items to the list, please let me know. The submitted items for consideration are:
-Upgrade Corona Street playground (fence, playground equipment, installation of wood chips or foam-like material for groundcover beneath play equipment, add benches, etc.)
-Install a left turn signal at Bay to Bay Blvd. and Dale Mabry Hwy.
-Resurface the 4000 block of Tacon Street
-Require more frequent maintenance of Corona Street Park
-Speed control on Sterling Ave. (possible 4-way stop at Sterling Ave. and Corona St.)
-Speeding enforcement on neighborhood streets, not just main thoroughfares
-Construct a sidewalk on the North side of El Prado Blvd.
-Install ''NO TRUCKS'' signage on Church Ave.
-Repair and/or update Friendship Park recreation building and fence
-Construct a sidewalk on Palmira St., West of Lois Ave.
-Resurface San Juan St. from Dale Mabry Hwy. to Church Ave.
-Enact speed controls on Church Ave.
-Upgrade the Bay to Bay ''Business District'' (from Clark Ave. to Manhattan Ave.) Repair sidewalks, plant trees, make signage uniform, install ''quaint'' lighting

CIT funds

Phil, I believe that our best chance of receiving funding under this program is to focus in on one, maybe two issues and describe what we want done in detail. It appears that several of the issues revolve around slowing down traffic which as you know is one of my primary concerns as well. Obtaining funding to install signage to indicate speed limits and no truck routes in a specific and achievable goal and one that I am in full support of.

Rob Hicks

Comments on List

I am unfamiliar with all the items, so I'll comment on those that I either know about or have an opinion.

Having playgrounds for neighborhood people to use and to enjoy is always a good thing. I would hope that there would be a place were people with dogs could safely exercise them off the leash similar to what people are trying to do in Hyde Park.

I do not think that a left-turn signal is necessary. The problem is that the existing left-turn lanes are themselves a major source of the accidents at this intersection. The left turn lanes block the on-coming traffic's view of other cars behind the turning car. I suggest that this needs to be corrected if we are to reduce the number of accidents at this corner.

The entire neighborhood need sidewalks, which have a significant impact on creating the feeling of 'neighborhood.'

Anything that can help reduce the speed on Sterling and Himes will be for the good.

I live on San Juan and have not found that the street is in need of repair. I know that it will not happen, but I would certainly like to see San Juan and most other streets made wider.

A personal peeve of mine is people parking on the wrong side of the street or blocking the sidewalks when parking in their driveways. Can the police enforce city regulations?

Thanks for the prompt listing and the work of all the Association volunteers.

CIT Funding

While I agree with Mr. Hicks that the majority of requests had to do with speeding and speed controls I got the impression from the meeting that some of those requests would be inappropriate for CIT funding. I am particularily interested in upgrading Corona Park. Frankly,I think the park presently looks forlorn and somewhat forbidding. A facelight would invite greater usage and become a gathering place for the neighborhood. If you remember what Kate Jackson park used to look like and compare it to now I think you'll see what I mean- I see alot more use and activity there now that it has been upgraded.
Adding a little xeriscaping to the Corona Street Park and picnic tables would be an additional request for the upgrade.
I also add my support to a dog park tho I don't have any ideas on location or funding.