Joyce Moen
Newton
It is unfortunate that the honored Fred Maytag Park, worthy of placement on the National Register of Historic Places, remains unsupervised, has 24-hour access which invites vandalism (the little free library) and is considered unsafe by many citizens. The park office is not staffed.
The house is rented to a non-city employee, which results in us tax-payers paying the county property taxes for not using the house for public purpose. The city rents office space at the Arboretum for the park superintendent.
A former Newton resident and Eagle Scout advisor with park experience has submitted the following suggestions for a safety improvement and appropriate park use.
• Discontinue renting the house. Help relocate the tenant if necessary.
• Discontinue renting the off-site office and sharing secretarial costs.
• Do not require the park officer to live in the park house. (May have shifts)
• Adjust park hours if necessary. 6 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. is reasonable.
• Utilize the superintendent house and office for both the park officer and secretary.
• Utilize the superintendent house for public meetings involving park issues, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and other youth groups, park board meetings and volunteer meetings. The living room would be ideal for large table and chairs.
• Utilize dining room for library, resource study, historic items, souvenirs, tourist information, possible secretary work space and snack machine.
• Keep the kitchen intact for staff use.
• Keep one bedroom for overnight staff use if necessary for some exceptional situation.
• Use a bedroom for storage and a bedroom for business meeting if needed.
• Install a security system for the house.
• The bathroom can meet staff, committee and student needs, not tourist needs.
• Arrange night time drive-by observation by police.
• Install cameras at most likely “break-in” area of house.
• Install lockable gates where bike trail entrances are presently allowing 24 hour entry. If present historic gates do not have locks, chain and lock are a solution.
• Install wireless cameras in the park around the house and front gates. It can show activity on a monitor in the house. The wireless should give good surveillance at less cost. These cameras can be placed at other locations.
• Place signs in the park stating, “This park is under video surveillance.”
• These can be monitored from “in house” to allow calling police earlier if it warrants that level of control.