Posts
Marna O'Brien park was the setting for another Movie in the Park event... coupled with Camp Out Night. I wasn't sure what to expect when it came to the number of campers out there. I was just quipping to my brother that some people are "glass half full" types, and others are "glass half empty" types... but I think I'm more like a "the glass is bone dry" type. So I was expecting there to be about 3 tents out there.
Instead, last count had the number at 35 campsites. Pretty good for an event that doesn't have years of lore behind it. I can just imagine how packed the park will be as the 5th and 10th annual Camp Out at the Park roll around.
With the days already getting markedly shorter, the movie was set to start shortly after 8:00pm, and it was amply dark enough to see the screen. The last Marna movie night was a bit more difficult to see for the first 10 mins or so because of the lingering twilight sky.
In the run up to the movie, there were activities for people to participate in. The boy scouts had an area, as did the sheriff's department.
While walking my dogs around the perimeter, I ended up stopping to talk to many people. Four of our five city council members were in attendance... can anyone guess who was absent?
I can just hear the snide comments from the Cantankerotti now... let's check in with them, shall we?
 |
| Lo and behold there were ants at the park. Though I'd be happy to dump a 50 gallon drum of DDT on them, somehow I'm thinking my esteemed friends prefer unilateral disarmament where we simply just padlock the parks instead. |
▼ ▼
Well, if that were the case [campaigning by the incumbents], they sure are lousy at it. No banners, no shirts, no hats, no buttons, no chatter, no nothing about the campaign. Just a night for WildoMartinis to go out and enjoy an August evening. Come on guys (and Madam Mayor)... press the flesh until your palms turn white next time. ^.^
Missing from the smorgasbord of free publicity were candidates Andre and Leija. There are more events scheduled before the election, perhaps they will join in the fun next time... I mean, they do want to represent this city... right?
 |
| Click to get to the official city calendar of events. |
A quick count on those that came out. The estimate is 150 that came for the movie. 20 or so that manned the various booths and 35 spots that were reserved with at least 2 campers, some with families of 6... and at least 2 (my wife and me) that came for the pre movie festivities only.
Check out a few more pics to get a feel of the evening.
◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙◙
 |
| Click Me. |
I camped out on June 28th with the rest of the nation and I'll be making s'mores today. I can hear the city manager now "the event was well attended". I'm glad to see you visited my blog, thank you.
ReplyDeleteI'm too old to camp out these days... but if I had little kids, or even little grand kids, that probably would rejuvenate me.
DeleteAs far as "well attended" goes, I guess it all depends on your perspective and taking the variables into account. If the same turn out happened in a city that had a 20 (or 50) year parks department that would be one thing. In a city like Wildomar, that has had to fight off the cranks since time immemorial, and has no unbroken track record —I consider the turnout to be a huge success.
Try this variable on for size. One half of one percent with 33,000 being the number of citizens served by these parks. Of that 33,000 more than 60 percent is over 18 years old and yet everything activity was gear towards children under 12 years of age, including that irritating flashing red and blue light. In a rural community not a single horse attended, nor were they invited. The turn-out was a colossal failure.
Delete...and I thought I was a guy that sees the glass as bone dry. The joke's on me I guess since you've done me one better. You're a guy that sees the glass as a pile of shards. Either way, I've lived in many cities where events were NOT attended by more than a similar percentage. Very few things, actually NOTHING, appeals to everyone. Very few things appeal to even a sizable percentage of people.
DeleteAs for adults and parks, I've known a lot of old people in my lifetime, and NONE of them have EVER desired going to a park to play with people their age. If they want to play chess, they do it at home or a friends house or online. Most even stopped going to movies well before they were 60 and the only thing they like to do out of the house, besides visiting the doctor, is going out to eat.
In San Clemente, a city with more than 50,000 residents, they had lawn bowling, and though that city had a large population that was older, there is no way that 500 of them, or even 150 for that matter, participated in that, or any community events, at any one time. Old people like being old, sitting on the porch and grousing about how things aren't the way they were when they were growing up... not going to the park.
Thank you for reading my blog.
Thanks for the info. We could hear the happy crowd before the movie started. I think camp out in the park is a great idea. Especially if u have little ones!!!
ReplyDeleteMy thought too. There will be another movie night on Aug 23rd. If you're in town, come on over and say hi. :)
DeleteI've attended most of the Movie In The Parks and other activities, and from what I've seen I notice quite a few grandma & grandpas spending time with their grandchildren. I don't engage to ask them if they are enjoying themselves but from the looks on their faces and their grandchildren's I would say that for the most part they are having an enjoyable time. My father and his wife, who live in Perris, attended a parks event at Marna and got to enjoy time with my son . . . and they loved every second of it. It seems to me that these events that are geared toward the youth are bringing out people of all ages for just a good old fashion good time. Sounds to me like this what a park is supposed to provide for citizens of all ages.
DeleteSpeaking of citizens of all ages, I pass by Marna every morning on my way to the gym and I usually see elderly looking people getting their morning walk in around the outer loop. As I drive by I can't see if they are enjoying it but I do notice the same cars in the parking lot every morning, so that may be an indication of enjoyment.
Seems to me that the park are providing enjoyment for people of all ages. By the way, I'm 50 and I go to the park to shoot basket at lunch on some days. While I'm there I encounter people of all ages and they seem to be enjoying what the park is providing.
A few blogs ago it was mentioned by someone that a board game night at the park would be nice . . . chess, checkers, backgammon. I suggested that this person contact the city/parks department and volunteer to head up the event and gather the interest and bring the crowd. If I recall this guy threw in the towel with several reasons/excuses why that wouldn't work. Nobody knew if the camp out in the park would work either, but those that attended sure did seem to enjoy it . . . even if it wasn't a huge turnout. You know, anybody can complain about what isn't good enough but until you get out there and really try you never know what's really possible in this world (or in this case our community).
Lets be clear- we do not fit the definition of a rural community. And I hardly judge the success of an event by how many horses attend! That is just silly.
DeleteIt is the same old people complaining and yet not getting involved to help make things happen.
I had NO DESIRE to camp out at the park- but I am thrilled to tell people that my community offered it.
If your only desire is to gripe then no event will ever be perfect. BTW interesting how someone can even complain about a flashing light that was for the kids. Was this light seen from a great distance? Did it last hours?
As far as usage of the parks- I go frequently(in the evenings) and see a wide age group of users. Although I do see more under 30 than over 30 years old at that time of day. And I do see lots of people there. But I know no matter how many use the park it will never be enough for those who seem to have only time to complain, sue, and not do one thing to get to know others in the community. sheila
I had children ages 11 and 14 there. We loved it...I am in my 40's and was very enthusiastic about the tug of war (as were many others who jumped in). I challenge all of you who are negative about your City's events to come up with ideas and pitch and help make it happen. Just expecting your "perfect night" to happen on its own is ridiculous. When in all honesty I didn't know that my perfect night was about to happen to me the other night unplanned...until it did. Everyone has different wants and needs... The city council are not mind readers. Become involved in help shaping this city in something you can be proud of. Otherwise... You get my gist.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your points. Some people seem to never be satisfied no matter what. It's one of those "Princess and the Pea" moments... some people are such little princesses that they can complain about a single pea that is dozen mattresses below them, instead of focusing on the beneficial things.
DeleteMr. Moore - the only thing thrown in Wildomar was caution to the wind when in haste the City of Wildomar added additional mulch to the Tot-Lots before a CPSI, this inspection was supposed to occur before the parks re-opened in April. This additional mulch quite possibly destroyed the A.D.A. compliance of these top lots. Only an official audit or lawsuit will be able to determine this.
ReplyDeleteMs. Fox - you say the city council are not mind readers, but without a parks department or a single go to person or a master parks and recreation plan, ideas need to be brought to the city council when they meet once a month at which time staff will be directed to study these ideas for months on end only to languish in some back room. This is what happened to the "Parks Commission".
Kenny Mayes
I'm the impatient type and I too would like to have seen the parks commission up and running by this point. Thing is, this is how real-life city politics work. It's one thing to hear about a need (like not enough sawdust under the swing sets) and remedy it... it's a far different thing to create a new segment of bureaucracy (parks commission) in a litigious town like ours.
DeleteThe rumora/barnacle/gadfly crowd in this city has only one goal, and that is to throw stumbling blocks in the way of everything they possibly can. Imagine if a parks commission had been put together in 6 weeks. The cackling from the Cantankerotti would have hit new highs. The commission will be up and running before the end of the year and that's not out of line with the normal snails pace of any city government.
Prior to that sawdust you refer to being introduced to the playground environment there was a sixfold greater chance of concussion and the severity of head injury was greater. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1719792/pdf/v089p00152.pdf
DeleteAs to how fast things get done, it took how long to change the name of that library you never use. You make the claim the parks commission will be by years end using what? a crystal ball or maybe some sort of insider information.
Kenny Mayes
It wasn't a crystal ball, it was simply asking questions to those with the answers instead of sniping from the sidelines. Phone calls and emails work almost like magic when they aren't delivered with a needless edginess that is so typical to your approach. If getting basic answers to simple questions is "insider information" then I guess that's the case.
DeleteAs far as the library name change goes... you can't be serious. If you seriously are comparing a resolution that was ceremonial at best, that was acted upon by another agency (the county), with implementing a new commission then I'm going to have to move you down another peg on the gravitas scale.
There were already plans to increase the level of bark in the playground before the grousing started. Sort of like when the same person complained about work in progress during renovation of the dog park.
DeleteAn insufficient amount of Engineered Wood Fiber was added to the Tot-Lot back in January of this year, this still does not answer the question of when the Certified Playground Safety Inspection to paid for with the PARSAC grant money will be preformed, the parks have been open since April. Pray for the drought to continue, The dog park, except for a bronze plaque and a rainbird quick disconnect for a hose, will be a thing of history after the first measurable rainfall this winter.
DeleteKenny Mayes
Other than surfing the web what credentials do you have?
DeleteGee how original and beneficial for the city to whip out the "litigation" card. Aren't the lawsuit people getting tired of losing.. Or do they like the faux power from making ridiculous demands? Or perhaps it is the settlement money? Or costing the city tens of thousands of dollars? Face it you aren't elected, you are just chronic complainers
ReplyDeleteIf it moves... it must be sued. :)
Delete