Intisar Seraaj-Sabree
Edgewood residents at proposed Broadway Park
Edgewood resident Emily Brown walks near the potential site of a Broadway Park, pictured above, with her 5-month-old twin daughters. Brown said that she would be excited to have a park within walking distance. “Anything that gets us out of the house for something free to do is great,” she said. Photo by Intisar Seraaj-Sabree.Residents in Edgewood have scored a victory in their quest to build a park off of Broadway Street. Drake Homes LLC had intended to build condominiums at the park’s planned location, but the company withdrew its proposal after facing pressure from local homeowners.
A group called Friends of Broadway Park and Community Garden, which has campaigned for the park’s creation since March, attributed this success to its members’ letter-writing campaign and interviews on ABC 33/40 and Fox 6.
“We like to think that they heard the community’s concerns about what development of that area would do to the neighborhood, the traffic and the families who walk, run and stroll though there daily,” said Van Gunter, a member of Friends of Broadway Park.
Even with this obstacle removed, the park is not a definite addition to Edgewood yet. While residents are making plans to convert the lot, which sits at the intersection of Carr Avenue and Saulter Road, into an enjoyable public space, the City of Homewood has not yet made a decision to purchase the land.
At a public works committee meeting on Sept. 9, the committee discussed the feasibility of purchasing and improving the lot. The land would cost $220,000, and the Parks and Recreation Department estimates that benches, landscaping, paths and other improvements will cost $50,000-60,000. Due to this expense, the committee also considered using a smaller, neighboring lot as a compromise between community and budgetary needs. If that lot were used, the city would not buy the land but rather make an agreement with the owner to place benches and paths on the lot in return for keeping the grass cut.
“It would be a done deal if we had property being donated to the city. We’d be all over it,” said Walter Jones, a member of the committee. “But that’s not the case. So it’s mainly a financial matter.”
The committee ultimately made a motion to send the park proposal for a vote. They recommended approval if the funding was available but were uncertain if the finance committee would agree.
“I think everybody is in favor of more green space,” said committee member Rich Laws, “but the way it is, I don’t think we have the votes to be able to buy it.”
