Council and Kayla's Krew leadership split as playground site is chosen
After several hours of debate and discussion last night, the Common Council came to a conclusion on where Kayla's Playground would be located. Some of you might have joined me in my live coverage of the decision that likely could have rivaled LeBron James' ESPN special a few years back. Just as LeBron's decision left some folks burned, the same can be said with the Council's decision spurning Kayla's Krew founder Michelle Runte's desire to have the playground relocated from Victory of the Lamb's new Church to Pleasant View Park.
The meeting began in a joyous tone during citizen comment period when Victory of the Lamb Pastor Ben Kuerth proclaimed to the Council and members of the audience that the Church was more than willing to let the playground be located at a site other than his Church's property. It was his intention that the Church community's love for the City of Franklin and its residents would be displayed through this act of kindness. He then closed out with the hopes that the city would give considerable weight to the opinions of Kayla's Krew's founder, Michelle Runte, and where she'd like to see the playground go. Subsequently, Runte approached the Council and declared that instead of Victory of the Lamb, she'd prefer locating the playground at Pleasant View Park, and didn't have much in terms of wiggle room from that option.
The discussion quickly unraveling, several residents who live on Evergreen Street, the only road leading into Pleasant View Park, expressed grave concern over the potential traffic and parking situation on their street. Observing the many comments made by Mayor Olson, members of the Council, and Runte herself as the playground being a regional destination for families, they grew in concern over what that means for their street.
With both sides now taking up their respective flags, when the issue came up before the Council, the aldermen took a whole new approach. In what was considered a surprise by some, Milwaukee County's Froemming Park became the rising star in locating the playground. Aldermen remarked how this park fulfilled most of everything the Kayla's Krew had wanted in a park - it was in a central location with easy access, had available facilities and a parking lot on site that didn't need new construction, and had no issues of sudden loud noises from sirens or horns that could occur at other parks. It also came in at a great price - $450,000 after Kayla's Krew's $200,000 donation. This in comparison to the over $1 million figure if the Council stuck with the Victory of the Lamb site.
Despite all this, Runte was left unimpressed. Instead, concerns about another level of government bureaucracy and how that impacts her timetable to get construction started with a completion date of sometime in September took over. The Council, meanwhile, moved forward with Froemming Park as the main site on a 3-2 vote. Additionally, the Council recongnized its initial mistake in not having a solid "Plan B" when Victory of the Lamb's site ballooned in costs, and fixed that by naming Lions Legend Park as Froemming Park's backup option in case things with Milwaukee County don't go as planned. That passed on a 4-1 vote. Alderwoman Janet Evans was the only alderperson who voted NO twice, in what could be viewed as a solidarity vote with Runte's wish that the playground be at Pleasant View Park. Evans tried getting the Council to support the playground at Pleasant View Park but her push failed when no one else supported her motion.