Since Mayor Hank Roberts walked down the steps of the Old Vanderburgh County Courthouse for the final time as mayor in late December of 1955, there have only been 3 other residents to hold the office for the Republican Party. And before this year, the only two to accomplish this feat were father and son.
We've come a long way since December of 1955. And to be quite honest about it, we've fallen down a lot more than we've climbed up. In fact, the first Census taken since Mayor Roberts left office (1960) has been the only Census that showed Evansville expanding instead of contracting....
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evansville,_Indiana
Amid all of the dark skies and turmoil that has surrounded the River City, there is one movement that I would like to see continued. That movement is the Roberts Revolution, a movement that consists of both progressive and aggressive capital improvement projects while stressing preservation as well.
For those who don't remember, Mayor Roberts not only brought us Roberts Stadium, he also kept the Evansville Coliseum for us as well...
http://saverobertsstadium.blogspot.com/2011/12/hank-roberts-made-sure-coliseum-was.html
What I find to be the greatest attribute of Roberts was both his desire to preserve the Coliseum and his vision to see that keeping it would have no bearing on Roberts Stadium. While the town naysayers feared that the two would compete or the Coliseum would turn into a "white elephant," Mayor Roberts saw the situation for what it was. And let's be honest, is there even one single person in this town now that thinks the Coliseum and Roberts Stadium competed with each other? And how many people can you name who would rather see yet another vacant parking lot next downtown instead of the Coliseum.
If we are going to truly get out of the Ford Center project all that we can get, we MUST have a mayor who thinks this way. We must have a mayor who is willing to take one step forward while refusing to take one step backward at the same time.
And since Mayor Roberts' time, both Mayor Lloyd Sr. and Jr. have accepted the role of caretaker for the Roberts Revolution. Let's take a look at what the previous two Republican mayors accomplished compared with what Mayor Roberts accomplished...
Capital Improvement Projects Next To Wesselman Woods
Mayor Roberts
Built Roberts Stadium
Mayor Russ Lloyd Sr.
Built the first Swonder Ice Rink- http://local.evpl.org/views/viewimage.asp?ID=792510
Mayor Russ Lloyd Jr.
Built the second Swonder Ice Rink
Capital Improvement Projects In General
Mayor Roberts
Had A "Plan of Progress"
Mayor Russ Lloyd Sr.
Talked Bob Green into building the Executive Inn after initially giving up.
Tried to keep the Triplets in town- http://local.evpl.org/views/viewimage.asp?ID=921626
Mayor Russ Lloyd Jr.
Developed the 2001 Downtown Master Plan (canal, ballpark, arena, park(s), marina, etc)
Preservation
Mayor Roberts
Worked to save and reuse the coliseum
Mayor Russ Lloyd Sr.
Renovated than leased the Coliseum to the veterans- http://local.evpl.org/views/viewimage.asp?ID=940662
Approved funds to renovate Bosse Field- http://local.evpl.org/views/viewimage.asp?ID=922042
Mayor Russ Lloyd Jr.
Developed a master plan in 2002 to renovate Garvin Park around Bosse Field, this included the historic band stand and water fountain.
Now that mayors Russ Lloyd Sr. & Jr. have left office, the torch has been passed to Mayor Winnecke. And not only does Mayor Winnecke have the torch in his hand to continue the Roberts Revolution, he also has an EXCELLENT STARTING POINT! I don't believe there has ever been a time in Evansville's history where a mayor has had this much potential to accomplish this much good for the city of Evansville.
Let's take a look at how Mayor Winnecke can answer the same exact questions above...
Capital Improvement Projects Next To Wesselman Woods
Demolishing Roberts Stadium would be a huge setback for both Mayor Winnecke and the Roberts Revolution as this would be the first time a capital improvement project would be demolished in favor of a non revenue generating park that doesn't give the area anything new. Yes, the original Swonder Ice Rink has been demolished, but this facility had neither the history nor the architectural flare that Roberts Stadium has. It also was directly replaced on the lot with another ice rink, not a green space.
If Mayor Winnecke would commit to renovating Roberts Stadium into a mid-sized arena, he would then have the opportunity to do what Republican mayors have done before him- construct a new capital improvement project(s) on the lot. You see, with a scaled down Roberts, we will not need all of the 4,000 parking spaces on the lot. This gives Mayor Winnecke the opportunity to set up a master plan where a new Hartke pool (and natatorium?) along with a new BMX only facility and park surround Roberts Stadium.
Being that a renovated Roberts Stadium is cheaper (by 1/3rd the price) than a green space AND generates revenue, Mayor Winnecke won't have to struggle to find additional funding for the next capital improvement project.
Capital Improvement Projects In General
With the new Ford Center built, open, and ready to settle in, Mayor Winnecke is in a prime spot to bring back the 2001 Downtown Master Plan. It makes no sense to construct an arena without preparing to develop the land around it. Our city has made a big and bold choice to construct a new arena downtown (a move I support). Now that we have made this decision, we must take over the responsibilities of it. This means that we build around the Ford Center and not I-69/I-164 or University Parkway or I-64.
Of course, there will be many politicians who will claim that building the 2001 Master Plan is expensive and can't be done. Yet these same people don't say a word when these funds (and even more) are spent on projects in the county and outside of downtown that bear no fruit.
For example, how many people objected to Mayor Lloyd Jr's $22.5 million downtown ballpark on the basis of costs? Quite a few. On the flip side, how many people objected to the $25 million North Green River Road expansion? Hardly any. If Mayor Winnecke is willing to change his focus from county roads to downtown projects he will in turn change many hearts and minds into supporting Smart Growth. Mayor Winnecke can build downtown and he can do it with EXISTING funds!
Preservation
Obviously that starts with Roberts Stadium, an arena that has seen over 150 yard signs go up around its surrounding neighborhoods calling for it to be saved while seeing residents come out to the task force meetings almost always in a 90-10 split in favor of Roberts Stadium. Mayor Winnecke MUST recognize this opportunity for Roberts Stadium to be the cornerstone of his administration!
With that being said, there is also yet another HUGE preservation opportunity for Mayor Winnecke and his administration to take advantage of. As of right now, we know the following...
1. The ECVB is hellbent on building 8 ball fields
2. Jacobsville has just been cleaned up by the EPA and the DMD is looking to connect the Ford Center with Bosse Field via young professional housing and retail.
3. The Otters are losing money and a new ballpark is eventually inevitable.
4. We have a historic ballpark in Jacobsville that turns 100 in 3 years.
5. We have land ALREADY owned by the parks department and ALREADY has 3 ball fields on the land.
6. There is a company that builds ball fields taxpayer free and designs them to replicate vintage MLB ballparks so that they have a competitive advantage...
http://www.bigleaguedreams.com/replica-fields
http://www.bigleaguedreams.com/corporate/park-development
7. Our city has recently installed the downtown Main Street archway that is designed to connect with the other Main Street archway at Garvin Park...
If you look at the above examples of preservation that the previous Republican mayors fought for, it isn't too hard to notice that what they did certainly didn't have all of the built in advantages that Mayor Winnecke has this time around. If our city can't take a plan that is going to receive full funding from the Innkeepers Tax and place it in an area that is both historic and in dire need of renewal, what can our city accomplish?
Although Mayor Roberts took a lot of heat for the hard work he put into getting Evansville going in the right direction, eventually the city appreciated, respected, and understood what he stood for and what he had done for them...
Now, the torch has been passed for the 3rd time to Mayor Winnecke. In the next few weeks, we will know for sure if he is committed to the Roberts Revolution with his decision on what to do with Roberts Stadium. We will know, once and for all, if he is committed to building off of the success and hard work that Mayor Roberts put in almost 60 years ago. We will also know if he is willing to take on the task of fending off the naysayers from destroying the Roberts Revolution.
Mayor Winnecke, here is the torch to the Roberts Revolution. Please take it and SAVE ROBERTS STADIUM...
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