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TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 1988 <br /> <br />A number of citizens residing in the area of Salem and Sellers Streets appeared <br />before Council in support of their petition (signed by 29 persons) seeking (1) a <br />small playground facility for their neighborhood and (2) street lighting along <br />undeveloped Lavinder Street, which extends from Memorial Boulevard to Salem <br />Street. Having considered this petition in advance of this Council meeting, <br />City Manager Brown reported that Martinsville already exceeds standards adopted <br />by the National Recreation & Park Association used as a general guide in the <br />development of parks and, too, for the City to undertake to develop and maintain <br />a series of parks designed to serve small population areas would require a large <br />amount of funds and funding as well as establish a precedent difficult to <br /> <br />control. Mr. Brown also explained the City's general-but-unwritten policy <br /> \ <br /> <br />pertaining to installing street lighting (and electric service), whereby such <br />service is installed as properties develop along streets (e.g., along developed <br />residential streets, generally lighting is installed on every other pole). In <br />a prepared statement relating to this petition, Councilman Cole offered comments <br />and made observations, generally as follows: <br /> <br /> I. White it is helpful to have national standards as a guide for <br /> the development of parks and recreational facilities, the fact <br /> that Martinsville's total park system exceeds those same <br /> standards makes it easy for Council, should it choose, to <br /> reject this petition. <br /> <br /> II. According to these same standards, nevertheless, recreation <br /> programs and services are at their best when the principa! <br /> focus is in the natural neighborhood. <br /> <br /> III. For the neighborhood and the thirty-six children who live <br /> therein, the motivating factor for the petition is safety. <br /> <br /> IV. The reason the national standards don't fit this situation <br /> are the boundary lines for the natural neighborhood, viz., <br /> Memorial Boulevard, the Norfolk Southern Railway tracks, and <br /> an industrial access road. <br /> <br /> V. The expressed concern that (to grant petitioners' request for <br /> the neighborhood playground) an undesirable precedent would be <br /> established seems to indicate that Martinsville should adhere <br /> <br /> <br />