RSS
Twitter
Facebook
YouTube
For the past few years, the Statehouse lawn has been home to the Capitol Crossroads downtown kickball league where office workers, young professionals, and downtown residents have all been able to converge and participate some friendly intramural activities.
But word has been handed down from the Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board (the organization that operates the Statehouse) that the kickballers are not going to be as welcome in 2009 as they once were. They felt that the grounds had been too trampled and want to see fewer games, fewer teams, and potentially a relocation of the playing area.
The Statehouse Lawn is one of the few large grass field gathering places in the core of downtown big enough for activities such as this. I guess we collectively need to decide which is more important: maintaining a pristine grass plot that is untouched by the public, or providing the public with a gathering spot that actually gets utilized.
If you’ve got an opinion to voice, you can contact William E. Carleton, the Executive Director at the Statehouse at wcarleton@csrab.state.oh.us or 614-752-9777.
Sent my email too. I was hoping to join up this summer myself.
This is the People’s House! Let the people play kickball…..I thought we wanted to add a heartbeat to our downtown corridor and this is how its being handled? I urge people to CALL Bill Carleton at 614-752-9777. An email is nice but a call means business.
lifeontwowheels Says: If anything, there will be a new 9 acre park just across the street soon.
I assume you’re talking about Columbus Commons which won’t be open until Winter 2010/2011. That really does nothing for people who want to play this summer or next summer.
True. At least there are other options (AD, Vic Village). It is quite sad this is the direction they are taking.
When I worked there, I always talked up the Statehouse and it’s restoration as part of the springboard to reviving downtown. Especially with the kickball leagues.
It was great change to see people being active and civil on the capital lawn, it made it more welcoming than the bus line full of homeless, druggie-muggers harassing me.
You know not all of us that get off the bus at Broad and High are homeless, druggie muggers.
now now, those are just state employees….. lol
I walk by the Statehouse several times per week and hop off and on buses there pretty frequently. Can’t say I’ve ever been harassed by anyone around there, let alone mugged.
Amen to Loungin9. If they’re so concerned about appearances, they should relocate the low end loiterers who mull about the high street sidewalk rapping obscenities and leaving trash on the lawn while they wait for their bus. I work out at the lifestyle gym across the street and enjoyed watching this activity out the windows last summer and thought it might be cool to join this summer. Oh well.
lol@ Druggie muggers lol Do they really bother you or do they look unappeling ?
That being said it’s booty their saying no to kick ball hopefully they change their minds.
Who is that handsome man on the front page of CU?
The grass always looked green and lush to me. I mean, no sliding was allowed. And no one ever ewore spikes. So basically they don’t think grass can handle walking/jogging on it? Ridiculous and ignorant.
I know a baseball stadium on Mound Street that won’t be very busy this spring and summer….
I’ve been playing in a league for about 4 seasons now. It’s run by a company called Gokickball.com. We are about to start this season in about a week a think and I think you can still sign up. We play at Mckinley Park down by the COTA station. Great times.
In light of this, I suggest a league of street-kickball in the middle of Pearl Alley or Gay Street. New rules would allow balls to carom off of buildings, parked scooters, and wallpapered dumpsters and still remain in play.
Just sent a note as well.
Has anyone seen the email reply that came out in response to the limitations on kickball at the State House lawn? If not, here it is:
Thank you for your email and your interest in the Ohio Statehouse. The Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board (CSRAB) is responsible for maintaining the historic character of the Statehouse and Capitol Square while providing for the health, safety and convenience of those who work in or visit the complex.
Our partnership with Capital Crossroads has resulted in many collaborations; including the summer kickball league. All of us on Capitol Square recognize the impact that the kickball league has including economic factors and vibrancy to our downtown community.
As you may know, the Statehouse underground parking garage results in a limited depth of soil on the West lawn. This shallow soil contributes to the vulnerability of the grass during high impact activities. In addition, the recent reductions to the CSRAB budget, including staff cuts, has limited our agency’s resources that are able to be allocated to the lawn because of the number of other buildings and grounds projects.
During the 2008 kickball season, the Statehouse lawn saw a great deal of wear and tear due to the increased playing time resulting from the increased number of evenings played. In order to maintain the Statehouse lawn for everyone’s enjoyment, CSRAB needs to perform maintenance on a regular basis. The grass needs time to recuperate. Because of this, CSRAB asked the Capital Crossroads SID to reduce their 2009 season to one night a week. The Statehouse has not shut the door on kickball, the lawn simply needs a year of reduced playing time to rejuvenate.
Again, CSRAB recognizes the importance of being a good community partner and hopes that Capital Crossroads and the number of interested kickball teams can work within the one night a week game format as they did when the league originally started.
Sincerely,
William E. Carleton
Executive Director
hmmm, mine seems to be the exact same thing, even though it does not adress the issues I asked about.
Time for a phone call
I responded with; “I still maintain that chasing the population out of the few remaining greenspaces downtown is contrary to the benefits of a revitalizing the area.
Perhaps we could put the legislature out one day a week instead.
From what I have seen of our portly representatives, it would be of benefit to everyone.”
Shimmy, I just got the same response.
If you’re that worried about it, why not just ask for volunteers to help maintain it. And I dont see how the grass contributes to “the historic character” of the statehouse.
I too received the email reply.
Seriously, the grass needs to recuperate?
I’m starting to think there’s something more to this.. What do you think?
So yeah… “Get Off My Lawn”.