WALK IN THE PARK
BEFORE ELECTION

A nice Autumn day. Paddy, Mick
and me took a walk around the
Buckingham Pond Park.

Posters announce a Fall park
clean up sponsored by the
Buckingham Pond Conservancy
scheduled for 1-3 pm Sunday
November 2.

Election Day is November 4
One of the founders of the
Conservancy is a candidate
for the Albany City School
Board.

Election to the school board
is a step toward running for
elective office in the city/county.

It is nice that neighbors volunteer
their time to do park clean ups
in the Spring and Fall.

However, what has the City of
Albany done, or not done, to
improve the park?

The park was created in 1994
when the BPCNA had the pond
and adjacent shoreline rezoned
Land Conservation (LC-park
land).

The BPCNA lobbied to have
Jack and Carl back as summer
employees to maintain the park.
As usual they did a fine job.

But, here we are a few days
before election day.  What has
the City done to make needed
improvements to the pond and
park?

Here is what Paddy, Mick and
me observed as we toured the
park.

South side from Lenox to Milner

*  erosion of pathways at park
entrances: Euclid and Holmes Dale.

Coarse gravel, not bluestone flour
is the remedy. The bluestone flour
compacts and becomes slippery
when wet or icy.  Think slip and
fall lawsuit(s).

* no guard rail has been installed
at the foot of Lenox to prevent a
speeding, out of control vehicle
from dropping down on pedestrians
joggers and pets on the foot path
below. Big liability lawsuit.

Take a look at the severely bent
guard rail at the foot of Euclid
which has protected those on
the footpath below from a similar
fate.

* dead tree limbs/trees overhang
the footpath from Euclid to Lenox.

Some windy day we will learn of
an injury, or likely fatality occurring
and a large liability lawsuit filed
against the City for negligence.
City taxpayers stuck for the tab.

* invasive knot weed has not been
eradicated. It will rapidly spread
throughout the park and to 
adjacent residential properties
if not dealt with now.

* vines strangling many trees
particularly young replacement
trees.

* yard wastes dumped by residents 
along Rafts Way between Holmes
Dale and Colonial. 

*graffiti on the verizon equipment
boxes.

Milner footpath and Davis Ave
holding pond

* vandalized nylon lines on the'
foot bridge.

* erosion of the path at the 
.Berkshire entrance.

* algae bloom in the holding
pond which flows into the
larger park pond.

This will winter over under
the ice, as occurred in both
water bodies.

* dead limbs/trees overhang
the paths bordering the holding
pond.

The North side of the park is
in better shape, due to the efforts
of Jack and Carl.

Litter was observed around
the parking area.

The water fountain was removed.

The East End of the pond has some
algae bloom remaining.

The Conservancy has obtained 
an $8,000 grant to their credit.

Rather than spending the grant
on a water quality study, use
the money to improve the park.

The water quality problem
exists because we have a shallow
pond with considerable run off
lawn chemicals from the homes
and apartments' and road salt
applied by the City, in the pond
watershed.

Algae blooms result when sunlight
interacts with nutrients in the
shallow pond.

Shoreline erosion needs to be
addressed because the pond is
filling in. The answer lies in
planting more Willows, Red
Osier Dogwoods and other
plants to reduce shore slumping
and erosion.

Observe the guard rail and posts
East end of the pond are leaning
in toward the pond.

The road around that end of the
pond will eventually wind up
in the pond, unless steps are
taken to address the geomorphic
process of soil creep/slumping
occurring there.

The pathway is extremely wet
and slippery. Apply coarse gravel.

These observations are not new.
Search this website for numerous
similar posts relating to the pond
park.

No need to waste money on a
consultant. The problems, causes
and remedies are there.

All the Conservancy and City
need do, is do what is needed.

Need labor?  Involve county
jail inmates and  students from
local schools/colleges.

The pond park is the centerpiece
of our neighborhood. We pay
high property taxes, and will
be paying even more with the
coming reassessment included
in the City budget- should it
become law.

So, as election day nears
and you dutifully go to the polls
to vote the party line, does it
cross your mind to ask- " are
my vote, and the property
taxes I pay, to support City
government and schools, taken
for granted?"
 

                      Joe Sullivan