'Picnic on the greenway' event happening Sunday to celebrate vision for Allen Creek Greenway
Longtime supporters of the vision for a greenway in Ann Arbor are inviting the community to come learn more at a Sunday afternoon "picnic on the greenway."
The Allen Creek Greenway Conservancy is hosting the event from 1-4 p.m. Sunday at the parking lot at First and William streets.
The proposed locations of the three greenway anchor parks.
Courtesy of Friends of the Ann Arbor Greenway
Organizers say community members are invited to bring their own snacks and seats and enjoy live music and activities for children.
The schedule is as follows:
1-2 p.m. — Dorkestra band plays, Kim Easter is the featured singer. Welcome speech by ACGC President Bob Galardi. Activities for children and for "adults who may feel like a child for a day" include imagining the greenway by drawing it with green chalk and making flowers.
2 p.m. — Short speeches. Poem "A Brook in the City" by Robert Frost, read by local poet Chris Lord (organizers believe the brook from the poem is Allen Creek). A second poem written and read by local poet Nancy Heers, titled "If I had My Choice," inspired by the greenway.
2:30 p.m. —Dance called "Greenway" by Dancers for Life (Nancy Heers, Shirley Axon, Quincy Northrup, and five more dancers), waving a long green cloth. Followed or preceded with song by Robert and Quincy Northrup: "This Land is my Land."
3 p.m. — Band plays some more. The so-called "Violin Monster" of Ann Arbor has been invited to join and play with the band.
4 p.m. — End of party, pick up trash and leave the place as found, except for chalk marks on the parking lot that will wash away with the next rain.
Watch a video on the vision for the greenway:
Ryan J. Stanton covers government and politics for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at ryanstanton@annarbor.com or 734-623-2529. You also can follow him on Twitter or subscribe to AnnArbor.com's email newsletters.
Comments
Vivienne Armentrout
Sat, Jun 1, 2013 : 8:05 p.m.
The video may be causing some confusion because it focuses on the railroad track. As I understand it, greenway advocates are not planning to take over the railway track at all, but rather to create a pathway along it that links city-owned properties and other locations (the Greenway Conservancy, I think, plans to acquire private property also) into a trail/park system. There is a convergence here - the railway runs along the "valley" because it is flat - but that is also along much of the Allen Creek floodway. So linking these low-level properties with green permeable areas that also have aesthetic value and recreational use makes a lot of sense. The video is a great who's who!
Odile Haber
Sat, Jun 1, 2013 : 7:08 p.m.
Usual Suspect you are not right, we all own that space, us citizens living in Ann Arbor since it belongs to the city. We need to have all the visions possible for a nice environment,we live right around there. The beauty that nature brings us can be enjoyed by all young and old. "The parking lot is one of three city-owned floodway/floodplain properties — in addition to 415 W. Washington and 721 N. Main — where the conservancy and city officials hope to see greenway anchor parks developed near downtown in the future."
Usual Suspect
Sat, Jun 1, 2013 : 7:36 p.m.
Odlie, are you claiming that the property on which cross-ties and rails lie is owned the citizens of the City of Ann Arbor? If so, I'd be interested in hearing when this transfer of ownership occurred. And you'd better let Watco Companies, LLC know, because as far as they know, they just bought it.
a2grateful
Sat, Jun 1, 2013 : 7:05 p.m.
If ever there ever was an oxymoron, this "greenway" is it: 415 W. Washington and 721 N. Main are part of a toxic sludgeway, requiring extensive environmental remediation before any "picnic-ers" arrive. . . unless they picnic in hazmat suits . . .
Usual Suspect
Sat, Jun 1, 2013 : 6:29 p.m.
The video is incredible. The people in the video are describing the grand plans they have for property that belongs to somebody else. Of course, since that somebody else is an evil corporation (using their terminology, we'll call it "Big Rail"), they, being leftists, feel empowered by today's anti-capitalist environment to work under the assumption that they will soon grab that property and do with it what they want. They even have the gall (or is it ignorance?) to refer to an operating railroad as "blight." Many people already use it as a pathway, therefore we should be able to make a pathway out of it. So now they want to claim squatting or homesteading rights on this private property. This is exactly why the owners must insist that tickets be written for trespassers. They see it, they want it, and they will somehow grab it. We are Ann Arbor. It's no wonder the previous owners (assuming the recent sale has gone through) of the Ann Arbor Railroad were hesitant to work with the city. There is a very legitimate trust issue in play. The new owners will be wise to quickly gain an understanding of the risks of owning property that Ann Arbor greenies have their eyes on.
BernieP
Sat, Jun 1, 2013 : 9:42 p.m.
The Suspect is correct to point out the moral peril here. And yes, theft is immoral even if sanctioned by a court of law ( i.e. Kelo as referenced ). Citizens of Ann Arbor would do well to insist the officials we elect have a track record in defending private property rights.
Usual Suspect
Sat, Jun 1, 2013 : 8:38 p.m.
Ross, your reading comprehension is seriously lacking. "You really stand in firm opposition to the vision of a beautiful series of parks and paths along the creek route?" Didn't say that. "The city owns several key parcels that can kick-start this thing." Didn't address those parcels of land. "Obviously the railway isn't going anywhere." Kelo v. City of New London. "Chill out!" Ditto.
Ross
Sat, Jun 1, 2013 : 7:29 p.m.
Wow. I think your post is what's incredible here. You really stand in firm opposition to the vision of a beautiful series of parks and paths along the creek route? The city owns several key parcels that can kick-start this thing. Obviously the railway isn't going anywhere. Chill out!
Usual Suspect
Sat, Jun 1, 2013 : 7:28 p.m.
I obviously wasn't talking about the part the city owns.
DJBudSonic
Sat, Jun 1, 2013 : 7:21 p.m.
The rail right-of-way is only part of the property, the city owns the rest, so what is the problem with making it a park or part of a series of parks?
Usual Suspect
Sat, Jun 1, 2013 : 6:33 p.m.
Exhibit A: the article points out the song, "This Land Is My Land" will be performed, the fourth verse of which is as follows: As I was walkin' - I saw a sign there / And that sign said - no tress passin' But on the other side .... it didn't say nothin! / Now that side was made for you and me!