Nothing wrong at Olmstead Park

When I read Dennis Opiela's letter in the Fencepost on 05-04-09, it caught my attention. First, it was his statements: "The children's playground is slowly being taken apart ... and, "There is a gazebo that is looking like some kind of slum building." Second, I know of Dennis and his wife, Sandy. They used to be regulars at park district meetings.

Before I drove over to the park to see for myself, I called the park district. They had not received any complaints about the park.

Here is what I found: Every single piece of playground equipment appeared to be in excellent condition. None of the playground equipment in the park was taken apart or broken, nor did it look like anyone had tried to take anything apart. The wood chip play surface was clean. There were two border stones moved over the winter, and there was peeling paint on the gazebo which was not present last fall. No graffiti was seen, and there was only small damage to an upright of the gazebo. This was nothing like I imagined after reading Mr. Opiela's letter. But to tell you the truth, I didn't really believe his letter when I read it.

This got me thinking about the meaning of community. Of course the first things that come to mind are schools, churches and synagogues, local shopping, parks and maybe nice neighbors. Starting about seven years ago, the Opielas complained bitterly about the ball fields in Olmstead Park ... behind their house.

The park district responded by planting a barrier of tall arborvitae at their fence line, and replaced the backstop with one that better stopped foul tips. Yet, the complaints continued.

Considering that the Olmstead Park was originally to have been a grade school, the park is a far more peaceful alternative, I think.

Dr. Robert Scott Steinberg

Hoffman Estates