Image, Argusleader.com
Notice the PUBLICLY FUNDED spray park is only a few feet from a private hotel. I am assuming it is sitting in front of one of the restaurants, so the diners can view the park. There is a patio door just to the right on the image. This has been my biggest contention with this spray park, it is virtually sitting on private property, and not any old business, a very successful hotel chain. Seriously!? Why should the public pay for this? I think a better option would be a partnership. Tax payers pay for the park and maintenance (parts, mechanical replacement, etc) and have the hotel pay for the energy, operation and water purification costs. Remember, this park is not sitting by the bike trail, you literally have to walk up a ramp to get to it from the bike trail. It is actually more easily accessible from the hotel then from the bike trail.
When I was recently in Ft. Collins they had a spray park like this that was identical in scope and size. It was sitting on a public right away boardwalk in front of a publicly funded art museum in the middle of DT. Wouldn’t something like this be awesome in front of the Pavilion or at Falls Park? Why would we put a public spray park only a couple of feet from a privately owned hotel? Is this blatant corporate welfare? Why should I have to pay to entertain guests at a privately owned hotel?
I did hear a funny comment about the spray park and it’s close proximity to the hotel restaurant, this person said; “What a sight it will be enjoying your morning breakfast and looking out at the spray park watching the homeless bath.”
Well it is publicly funded, so what’s stopping them from doing it?
self flushing geese toilet.
Just for fun next summer I may hit the place every morning at about 7 AM with a lawnchair and swim trunks and sit in the middle of it while drinking coffee and eating donuts, and face the crowd in the restaurant. I also propose reenactments of Monty Python movies in swimming trunks.
You probably will watch Joe Friday scudaddling the homeless on a regular basis at anytime of day. What about the last two weeks when it has been stifling hot? It will be more than joe public enjoying the coolness of the spray park.
I personally like the spray park but you are right – if it becomes a nuisance more than an enhancement – who is going to monitor the activity? Stay tuned.
Notice – EVERY publicly funded project in the city – parks, streets, you name it – immediately abuts someone’s private property – thus enhancing its value!!! Shocking!!!! Damn DL – even you have a publicly funded street in front of YOUR house!!!!!!!
Karma – FYI – as much as you SON types want to “classify” everyone according tot their “societal value” – the homeless are every bit as much Joe Public as anyone. Equal rights for everyone. Rights in this country do NOT depend on income or property ownership or any other material measure of “worthiness”.
Well we know Urpbucket didn’t approve it. Witches melt with water. What seems constant with such projects is they compliment if not increase the value of Lloyd projects. Rapid City has a fabulous lighted water show fountain. It’s better and open for public entertainment not just upscale Hilton city carpetbagger contractors.
It’s an outdoor bidet!
“the homeless are every bit as much Joe Public as anyone.”
Exactly. That is why I encourage them to bathe there every morning. It is filtered water. Heck, I might hand out bars of soap and towels.
Janoct, is what he is, but in one of his mayoral runs he said something great, it was in reference to other candidates talking about the homeless problem in SF, and I am combining quotes here, so bear with me.
(sic) “You talk about these people as if they are not people. They are. They may live on the streets, but they pay taxes on everything they buy. They have every right as you.”
Maybe the water can be green for St. Patty’s Day! Like they do in Chicago….
Detroit Lewis on 09.05.13 at 10:55 pm
“the homeless are every bit as much Joe Public as anyone.â€
Tell that to Tim Kant.
Where did a Phillips Avenue business owner ever get the idea that the bump-outs in front of both of his businesses belong to him!!?
Those are ALL tax dollars that paid for the reconstruction of Phillips Avenue, therefore if I or anyone else wants to sit in front of his businesses and NOT purchase anything, I have the right to do exactly that!!
But, is that what is actually happening in front ALL those Phillips Avenue businesses with PUBLIC bump-outs!!?
I think it will be interesting to see how soon Craig Lloyd forgets that the space behind (as he refers to it) his hotel is PUBLIC space paid for in its entirely with TAX DOLLARS.
BTW, the maintenance AND operation of that spray feature are also entirely on the TAXPAYERS.
They can also color the water gold to help people find parking spots.
Maybe the golden P hoverround brigade will have added territory to patrol. BTW, have you noticed the half dozen or so bike police downtown with their speed radar between parked cars?
Why would we put a public spray park only a couple of feet from a privately owned hotel? Is this blatant corporate welfare? Why should I have to pay to entertain guests at a privately owned hotel?
It is not just a couple feet from the hotel. It abuts it. It is also roughly 15 feet above the bike trail and 20 feet above the river. I had guests here from Georgia and while they were here I took them and my dog for several brisk walks along the trail. They could not believe the spray park was a public place part of the trail. They thought it belonged to the hotel.
Well Poly, it pretty much belongs to the Hotel, we are just footing the bill for it.
Ruf – as much as you want to paint me as an income judgement type person, please read the last paragraph of this story and you will see what I am referencing. If you have a problem with my comment, I would go back to where it started.
Karma – as to who is going to monitor it – it appears that DL has been monitoring it for a while now. He can just continue – IMO.
Just went there tonight to check it out. I tell you what, that think gives the Bellagio in Las Vegas a run for their money! Not only will people be coming to Sioux Falls for our brand new events center, they’ll also be flying in to check out our world famous water spouts!
CC….you forgot to add your sarcasm rider.
Poly, not needed on this site.