Renovating Promenade Park in Downtown Toledo

I guess this is a taxpayer-funded attempt by Toledo city government to bring back the 1980s and 1990s.

My Oct 2, 2013 comment in a Toledo Talk thread titled Phase 2 of Promenade Park Improvements

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"I'm willing to bet you guys complain about Toledo being ugly and uninviting, too."

Steady. Don't confuse real negativism with valid criticism.

"the naysayers can go bite it, this improves this city and community."

I hope that you are correct, but that's quite the authoritative statement, since the renovations are unfinished. Is your statement based upon facts or hope?

Forgive the question, but what was wrong with that spot that it needed renovation? Has the overwhelming usage of that area demanded improvements? Or is this one of those "build-it-and-they-will-come" projects?

"this will go a long way toward attracting more events/acts,"

Like what occurred back in the 1990s with the summer-time Friday evening Rally by the River/Party in the Park events, along with the three-day music festivals held on Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends?

Warning! Warning! Warning!

From the Blade story:

“This is one of the quality-of-life issues we have been talking about,” Mayor Bell said during a morning news conference at the park.

Oh no. The mayor played the "quality-of-life" card. That's an ominous sign.

More from the Blade:

A $2.2 million leftover from a state loan previously allocated for a public portion of the Marina District in East Toledo was rededicated for Promenade Park.

Future plans include a splash pad for children, a concert lawn amphitheater, and “green rooms” for performers. Mayor Bell said the city will need private funding for those added amenities.

David Dysard, planning administrator at the city division of engineering services, said the city does not have cost estimates for the amphitheater and splash pad.

After the renovations are complete and a couple million tax dollars are spent, can music acts perform at the new park, or does the concert lawn amphitheater have to be built first with private dollars to "go a long way toward attracting more events/acts?"

#toledo - #politics - #entertainment