Tuesday, June 29, 2004

Vegetation and vehicles topped the concerns of the Shawnee Estates Neighborhood Watch group last night.

About 30 residents of the neighborhood met with city officials and staff in H.P. Thomas Park for Bowling Greens third Summer Stroll of 2004.

First up on Tuesdays walk was a question about how to get new playground equipment for H.P. Thomas Park. The city Parks and Recreation Department removed old equipment there several years ago for safety reasons, Neighborhood Action Coordinator Karen Foley told the crowd.

She then explained the citys Select Neighborhood Action Plan grants, which can give several thousand dollars to neighborhoods for specific projects.

Just down the street on Tara Court, resident Philip Brent pointed out a large stormwater retention basin that he said is often overgrown.

Sometimes it doesnt drain well, he said. They dont keep it mowed.

City Commissioner Alan Palmer and City Manager Chuck Coates asked Public Works Director Emmett Wood if it belongs to the city. Wood wasnt sure.

If its ours, well take care of it, Coates said.

But Wood told Brent that long grass is often better than short in retention basins; longer grass filters the water, while pools over short grass can breed mosquitoes, he said.

Shawnee Estates is an established, finished neighborhood surrounded by continuing development, and its residents said that the concentration of new neighbors is causing some traffic problems.

The group walked down to the corner of Navajo Drive and Patton Way, where a large apartment complex that houses mostly Western Kentucky University students is being built.

Students from the buildings already occupied often jam up Navajo Drive, resident Cheryl Martin told Palmer, because in their morning rush to class, they cant get out on Nashville Road and so cut through Shawnee Estates, often speeding.

The complex really needs another entrance on Campbell Lane, she said.

As if to illustrate residents concerns about fast-moving cars, a green Pontiac Grand Am came speeding down Navajo. Police Chief Bill Waltrip and Capt. Joe Manning motioned for the driver to slow down.

Alice Burks, assistant to the Housing and Community Development director Special Projects, said she thinks the complex will soon have another driveway onto Campbell, between Kroger and Blockbuster Video.

On the way back to the meetings starting point, several residents told the group about an overgrown lot in the 2500 block of Yuma Drive. Its greenery is creeping onto the street. Wood said he would send trimmers out to clear the street right of way.

Throughout the summer, representatives of the city elected officials and many city departments walk through neighborhoods to hear residents concerns.

 Daily News ·813 College St. ·PO Box 90012 ·Bowling Green, KY ·42102 ·270-781-1700