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Salem parks board OKs access gate for SCC, will not be a through road

SALEM — The Salem Parks Commission gave permission for installation of a special event access gate and drive between a park-owned parking lot and the main Salem Community Center parking lot, but not without concerns about usage.

“No way that we want that a through street,” commission chairman John Panezott said. “We don’t want that to be a shortcut from Lincoln to Ellsworth.”

Panezott brought up the access gate under new business at the commission meeting Wednesday night, sharing that he had been approached by two representatives of the Salem Community Foundation about a need to have the two parking lots connected when there are special events at the Salem Community Center. SCF provides funding to the community center.

Specifically mentioned was the fact that people attending the recent Fat Tuesday event entered the parking lot off Ellsworth Avenue only to find that there was no parking, then they had to drive around town to access the other parking lot via Sunset Boulevard through Waterworth Memorial Park. The other parking lot, which is situated directly north of the Center Circle indoor soccer facility, is on park property. The two parking lots, which are at different elevations, are separated by a grass island.

Panezott said it was made clear that the gate would only be opened for special events, but Parks Director Steve Faber questioned the need for the gate and also raised some issues regarding the community center and an apparent lack of communication regarding community center events being held in the park.

“Our responsibility isn’t to the community center, it’s to the taxpayers,” he said.

Panezott replied that the access gate isn’t costing the taxpayers anything. The community center will pay for everything.

Panezott and Faber argued back and forth regarding the gate issue and the community center for several minutes. Commission vice chairman Terry Hoopes said he’s in favor of the gate, but his concern was who decides what constitutes a special occasion. He would want it to be something that benefits the whole community. He pointed out the commission has given the community center land, changed the landscape, helped them out on different situations and he doesn’t want it to be their call. He wants to see tight reins on what’s considered special occasions.

Park foreman Jim Grimm suggested if they had a list of special events, that could be provided to the parks department and also the parks department should have a key to the gate.

As an example of what he perceived as a lack of communication, Faber said he received a phone call last week the day before a race hosted by the community center to just let him know they were using the park. Panezott said they were talking about a gate, not a race, with Faber saying it wasn’t the first time and it goes to their actions. Recreation supervisor Shane Franks also said that communication to him about use of park facilities by the community center had fallen off. He questioned why the community center should be any different than anyone else who wants to use the park. Many groups request permission. A question was raised about what happens if the community center doesn’t tell the park about an event and there’s another event in the park the same day.

Commission member Lucille Karnofel said she didn’t see any problem with allowing them to put in a gate. She suggested that maybe whoever was in charge of the race or other events wasn’t aware they should contact Franks or Faber.

All three commission members voted to allow the gate, but with the understanding that the parks department is notified ahead of time about special events or plans to use the park.

“That’s a courtesy to us. That’s being a good neighbor,” Hoopes said.

Panezott said he would see about setting up a meeting with community center officials to get the communication problem squared away. All agreed that the community center is a gem in the community. All three commission members use the community center.

Plans for the access gate had not been finalized, so commission members had no information on where exactly the access gate would be located.

mgreier@salemnews.net

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