From beyond the end of the boardwalk, we look toward the playground in Monteith Riverpark on July 27, 2024.
On Saturday I was glad to see that the little boardwalk at the bottom of Albany’s new Monteith Riverpark had been opened so people could use it on their way down toward the river.
Since the park opened on July 4, portable screening had blocked the walk. The screening was there to shield the area behind it for the performers at Thursday and Monday night concerts when they were not on stage.
Rather than removing the screen and then putting it back on concert days, the crew left it in place. But then one of the workers let me know he would take the trouble to open that walk on non-concert days.
This wasn’t a huge deal, obviously. People could walk around the fencing. Still, it seemed odd for the city to pay for a path and then fence it off for part of the summer, the season when people might want to use it.
The boardwalk itself, about 60 feet long from the end of a concrete walkway, is a puzzle too. Why is it there?
In the early design stage for Monteith Riverpark, there was talk of making a landing for paddle craft where the Calapooia River flows into the Willamette. The idea was dropped from the final design, and this little wooden walk in that direction was built anyway.
The Albany Revitalization Agency might have wanted to forget that decorative boardwalk and, in the context of the overall Waterfront Project, put the money into repairing the broken concrete on the Dave Clark Path instead. (hh)
The boardwalk leads to an open area and a line of willows and other brush.Â
Who, knows, Hasso, why the City/CARA does what they do or did? Why did they put big boulders in the splash pad? For kids to fall on? Why did they make a faux hill on the padded playground whose slope ends abruptly at a concrete walk? Why did they put in that long span of steps down toward the stage that mess with the brain’s control of vision and therefore are dangerous? And the boardwalk to nowhere? Maybe it is a path to an area for dogs to poop! Dog poop is what I saw at the abrupt end of the walk.
Good grief negative nannies….nit pick everything…enjoy the new park, we think it’s great.
You got to admit though that those big rocks on the splash pad are an accident waiting to happen.
Yet another example of city government’s lack of common sense in making decisions and spending money.
“Odd” an apropos descriptor.
When does it end?
Apparently for libertarians…..never.
Name one government agency, project or employee that you actually approve of Mr. G.
Whatever the issue, you post the same boilerplate position. Perhaps you might try some insight and a lot less invective.
Another “Bridge to No Where”
Hilarious!
The “usual suspects” normal commentaries on most of Hasso’s posts, make me seriously wonder if any of them have ever had a face-to-face conversation over a cup of coffee with their city councilor… OR, ever bothered to get involved in the decision-making process that happens over time… Better yet: run for office – it only takes $5 to get your name on the ballot.
Nahhh – that’s way too easy. So much more fun to shoot from the hip. LOL
Exactly.
Including our resident libertarians.
Ok, Ray, I knew you would answer. Talk about the usual behavior! Look in the mirror.
Would it be too much to ask that you answer at least one of the questions about the design of Monteith Kiddie’s Park?
There is absolutely *nothing* wrong with the design of the kid’s park! It’s wonderful as the many kids & families will attest…
Oh, My God! A little testy today, are we?
Would it be too much to ask if you would answer any of my questions?
Oh, oh! I almost forgot!! You, Ray, did reveal something! You called Monteith the “kid’s park!” Thank you for admitting that Monteith Park with its many trees and big stretches of green grass is gone!!
You haven’t asked any questions. You carry on about having coffee or running for a Councilor position. No thanks, and no thanks. Those are my answers. And, Ray, if someone doesn’t call you for a coffee date or doesn’t file to run for office, those actions are your answers. You, on the other hand, are a Councilor, so there is open season on asking you questions.
When I saw them clearing that area where the Callapooia meets the Willamette I told them it was a dangerous place for swimmers etc. We used have people drown in that area. There used be a small dam there and Dave Clark had it removed hoping that would help and it didn’t. They finally let it grow up to discourage people going down there and city reopened it. I hope no one decides to swim there now they can get back down there.
Your right Dala. Thats why we said a water feature near the river was a bad idea. Swanson pool was built so kids would have a safe place to swim.
Call me a ninnie. Saturday was my first visit to the park since the renovation. OMG so disappointed. Use to be a very pretty setting. Is that a heli-pad as you drive in?? Parking?? Don’t get me started.
Great concept but the city council didn’t do any public outreach as the project proceeded. They took out way too many trees, tried to plant items that are now dead all the way down the trail. Waste of money. The water sprinklers are making the sidewalks grow but nobody has gone down and adjusted anything. The big steps down to the stage are a joke. I have seen many people trip on those and fall. bad design. The walkways over the river are pretty, especially since the taggers have hit. the railing get so hot that a person can get burned on them. The wood are is slick in the morning. The whole park is a lawsuit waiting to happen.