From day 1, we've been told that we must look at Roberts Stadium, "From a financial standpoint, not an emotional standpoint." Yet, we have identified the proper investors needed to keep Roberts Stadium's dates filled, we have identified proper sources of funding to renovate Roberts Stadium, and we have identified multiple projects and multiple organizations that Roberts Stadium can help on all four sides of Evansville.
Meanwhile, demolition supporters, who have put all of their eggs in the "Park or Bust" basket are seeking to ruin any financial solvency our city may have. It's no secret that our parks are in ruins. What pains me to look at the most is Garvin and Kleymeyer Parks due to their potential and proximity to historic Bosse Field. The following is a video I composed of what I found at the parks...
http://city-countyobserver.com/2011/01/30/jordan-baer-releases-video-of-his-vision-for-kleymeyer-park/
If that wasn't bad enough for you, take a look at what local resident Dr. Troost observed at Sunset Park...
http://city-countyobserver.com/2011/02/02/4857/
There is no question that here in Evansville, ROME IS BURNING!
Instead of rallying support to repair, renovate, and enhance our current parks, what do demolition supporters propose? Of all things, they want to construct yet another park on the Roberts Stadium lot...
http://www.courierpress.com/news/2011/dec/08/no-headline---084/
At this point, it should be quite obvious that demolition supporters such as Rick Rockford just don't get it. Instead of using existing funds allocated to demolish Roberts Stadium and selling Roberts Stadium's seats to finance a simple renovation of Roberts Stadium that will allow us to generate revenue off of rent, concession stand sales, ticket sales, and merchandise sales from various tenants (I've already mentioned a thousand times those 11 possible tenants), Rick believes that we should..
1. Waste taxpayer dollars to demolish Roberts Stadium
2. Waste taxpayer dollars to construct yet another park
3. Waste taxpayer dollars to maintain this park every year
4. Eliminate all possibilities of drawing revenue from mid-sized events
5. Forego the 7 benefits to Roberts Stadium that I have talked about
Even worse is the fact that Rick hasn't put much thought into his plan. If he would have, he would quickly realize that you cannot "Expand Wesselman Woods" as the current nature preserve consists of 300 + year-old trees while a new forest would be artificial, new growth, and would fight the current habitat.
On top of that, Rick's plan (if we can call it one) does nothing to address the horrible conditions of our current existing parks. Remember, the Parks Department has already said they're overwhelmed with the current existing parks...
http://saverobertsstadium.blogspot.com/2011/11/i-call-to-stand-evansville-parks.html
If we renovate Roberts Stadium correctly, we will be sending the seats that would be removed during renovations such as raising the floor and giving them to the ECVB who would use them in their ball fields project at Kleymeyer Park. Why is it important that these fields be located at Kleymeyer? Because just this week, we've seen the area struggle as three buildings in the neighborhood are being demolished...
http://northside.14wfie.com/news/business/52704-vacant-1st-ave-diamond-buildings-being-torn-down
Although these buildings have seen better days, the main reason why they are being demolished is because no investor wants to set up shop in the area. After all, why would you locate your business in an area that is surrounded by an abandoned Rally's, an abandoned car dealership, and two parks that are full of trash? The time to turn this area around is NOW!
Inside the article, Rick gives us the following solution to financing his park...
"Why not create a new area where people and corporations could "adopt" newly planted trees and green spaces?"
We're suppose to believe that individuals and corporations are going to foot the bill every single year for this park? It would be an understatement to say that this plan is a stretch and an extreme risk. What other park in Evansville is profitable or at least breaks even? And if there are corporations and individuals interested in donating and adopting a park, why not let them take care of an existing park that is currently in ruins?
No matter which direction demolition supporters spin it, the truth still remains, they have no answer for our existing parks, they have no answer for why it makes perfect sense to use Roberts Stadium as a mid-sized venue, they have no answer for why it doesn't make any financial sense to construct a park, and they have no answer as to why they don't even know how much their plan would cost.
A few years ago, we saw the motto "Sewers Before Stadiums." Now, we need to go with the motto " Parks Before Parks." Like I said in an earlier post, Roberts Stadium is the gift that keeps on giving as it will bring back jobs, economic development, help revive a park in ruin, allow all interested parties to win, and will benefit all sides of town.
It's time to take responsibility for our current parks and sports facilities. It's time to SAVE ROBERTS STADIUM!
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