Lochwood One Neighborhood Association (L.O.N.A.)

2008 Neighborhood Participation Program

Oct 27, 2007

In August, the City of Lakewood announced that it would fund $100,000 for the Neighborhood Participation Program in the Capital Improvement Budget for the 14th year running! This Program allows residents to identify and propose projects that would have a general benefit to their neighborhood.

Subsequent to this announcment in the "Looking at Lakewood" newspaper, I canvased the neighborhood asking for ideas to submit and received several great proposals. During Lochwood 1 Neighborhood Association's (L.O.N.A.) first meeting, we reviewed and discussed all suggestions. Based upon the general guidelines of the Program and the overall interest in specific ideas, we were able to identify two projects for submission:

Project 1
We are truly lucky to have a natural amenity in the East Reservoir in our neighborhood. Its ease of access and its relative seclusion leads residents to enjoy leisurely walks around the lake. And while the East Reservoir is owned and managed by the City of Lakewood, many of you may not know that your enjoyment of the dirt walking path around the lake is currently due to the kindness of a few of your neighbors who donate their time and use of their own personal lawn mowers and equipment to keep the path accessible.

Furthermore, and more importantly, I'm sure you're aware of the fact that after a rain shower or snow fall the dirt path is unusable. Unfortunately, this forces people to forge a new path in order to continue their walks. This deviation from the dirt path is a detriment to the delicate nature of the lake's ecology.

In order to address the above concerns - as well as the overwhelming suggestions from the residents - L.O.N.A. requested to have a three-foot wide pea gravel path placed around roughly three-quarters of the lake following the existing pathway (we did not include the service road from Kipling that accesses the spillway). As a basis of our proposal, we referred to the Sanctuary Park to the east of St. Jude's Church near Florida and Garrison and we included pictures (refer to the Community Pages located on the Home Page for the Program photo submittals). Also, take the time to visit that park to better understand L.O.N.A.'s proposal!

Project 2
Again, due to the kindness of residents within the community, East Reservoir has a baseball backstop that allows for local pick-up games. Unfortunately, this backstop is in general disrepair, not very safe and is an existing amenity that the residents believe could be improved and upgraded while continuing to maintain a small, local feel.

A new backstop, flanked by a low fence on either side coupled with bench seating was the answer. Using the Green Gables Park baseball field, also located at Garrison and Florida, as a basis for our submission, we sent pictures of these items to the City (refer to the Community Pages located on the Home Page for the Program photo submittals). Again, the idea is not to have a full baseball field, only to update and minimally improve what currently exists. Again, we encourage you to stop by the park to better understand this submittal.

At this time, the City of Lakewood has acknowledged both of L.O.N.A.'s submissions for the Neighborhood Participation Program. A City staff team representing the Planning, Engineering and Parks division has been reviewing the applications and will be visiting each project site in order to prepare cost estimates and systematically evaluate and rank the projects utilizing the established program criteria. The staff will forward a list of funding recommendations and present an overview of the proposed 2008 Program to City Council at a Study Session. City Council will then make the final selection of projects at a public hearing. It is anticipated the final decision will be made in December.

Keep tuned in to the website for an update on our neighborhood's submittal status and for the date of the public hearing announcing the winning projects!

Laura Lomba-Berg
President & Secretary
Lochwood 1 Neighborhood Association L.O.N.A.