On Jan. 5, chickens pecked their way through part of the property that used to be Hazelwood Park.
A “notice of filing” put out by Albany’s Community Development Department reminded me of a former city council’s sale of Hazelwood Park in 2021.
The council had declared the 2½-acre park at 1999 Queen Ave. S.W. to be surplus. After asking for offers, in September 2021 the city sold the park to three sets of neighbors for $120,000.
The neighbors live on 17th Avenue in back of the former park. They wanted to make the park land, including a copse of mature oaks and Douglas firs, part of their families’ back yards.
Now they have filed an application with the city to carry out their plan. They applied for a replat to reconfigure four properties. The former park would be divided in three, and each of the three parts would be joined to one of the owners’ lots.
The planning department will act on the application following a comment period that ends on Jan. 18. Property owners within 300 feet were notified.
Sandwiched between two electric substations, Hazelwood Park was sparsely used and had no facilities other than, at one time, one or two picnic tables. What are the chances of that part of southwest Albany getting a new neighborhood park somewhere else?
I asked Parks and Recreation Director Kim Lyddane, and she replied:
“At this time, there is not an active search for a new property to serve the southwest community. Takena Park is the closest to serve that area. The Master Plan does outline future park search areas for acquisition, and the area north of Oak Creek but south of Hazelwood is one such area. There are 10 areas with that same designation all across the south and east of town. Due to our department’s financial realities, it will be a while before any new park land is acquired and developed. Meadow Ridge, the new park between Meadow Ridge Elementary and Timber Ridge Middle, has been in the works for over 15 years and is just now coming to fruition. Prior to Meadow Ridge, our most recent park was Eads in 2009.”
What became Hazelwood Park had been bequeathed to the City of Albany as a park in 1935 by E. Maude Henderson, whose will asked that it be called Henderson Grove.
After I saw the replat application a few days ago, a bike ride took me to what used to be the entrance to Hazelwood Park. It’s private property now, of course. But I was glad to see that Maude Henderson’s grove of trees was still there. (hh)
The former Hazelwood Park property on Jan. 5: The grove of oaks and Douglas firs has been preserved.
Hazelwood park was used everyday by people walking their dogs. Now the neighborhood people have to go elsewhere to walk their dogs. I drive by parks that do not have anyone use them this time of year. Hazelwood was used all year long. Without amenities or close proximity to other resources it was free of the homeless most of the time and the cleanest park we had to walk our dogs. It is too bad that the residents of Albany get the activities that we do get to enjoy taken away. Do we all need to become homeless to be considered in the city plans? Do we need to get funding so we can keep our parks for regular folks to enjoy and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
You’re right. Everything is completely screwed up. This world (and this country) are on a downhill slide. And Democrats, Republicans, Independents, Non-affiliates….none of them give a damn about anything except Wall Street!!! The collective “They” just want the homeless to all die, too, so don’t blame the homeless. Imagine what it would be like if you were in their shoes. Pretty damned cold outside.
Seems like Hazelwood Park would be the perfect homeless location. Lots of trees to provide shelter, away from the masses of people so out of sight. Near the river for bathing and personal hygiene needs. Close by electrical service, too.
You are right the city treats them subhuman and they only help them because funding supplies so much money to hide them somewhere were what they consider the” upper class” will not be inconvenienced by them and feel good about themselves for “helping” them. The working class are left to fend for themselves. All people have the right to live with respect. Unfortunately, there is no funding for that. And I have been in their shoes a few times but due to a strong back and work ethic I was able to pull myself up and out of that hole of poverty.