Privilege Has Its Rewards: Part 2

The article below is from an article in the Newark Post on Jan 16, 2020.

Josh Shannon | The state of Delaware has acquired 32 acres of land along New London Road, expanding White Clay Creek State Park and protecting the wooded land and meadows from development.

The $2.6 million purchase amounts to the largest land acquisition for WCCSP since 2003, Delaware State Parks Director Ray Bivens said.

“We’re thrilled because it’s a great wildlife corridor, and you have a big chunk of mature forest that we’re protecting,” Bivens said. [Full article . . .]

The State of Delaware with Senator Bryan Townsend (and/or Rep Osienski or NCC's Lisa Diller) as champion could have acquired 180 acres of prime habitat, open space and trail corridors in Ogletown-S. Newark for a little over what they just paid for 32 acres (1/6 the size) in the City of Newark. This purchase, and the thwarting of housing development on the Newark Country Club is what you can expect where privilege abounds. Not so in many, if not most other disenfranchised suburbs in New Castle County that include Townsend's Senate Dist 11.

Had the 180 acre Orphanage Property been in Newark proper, securing $3+ Million to save it as parkland and habitat area would have been a shoo-in. As the dregs of New Castle County's nameless faceless unincorporated suburbs, Ogletown-S. Newark residents aren't deserving of such an amenity -- in the minds of area legislators.

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Privilege Has Its Rewards: Part 4

Still think that privilege doesn't affect the decisions of Delaware politicians? Think again. Like Newark proper, Pike Creek already has multiple regional parks and vast swaths of saved green and open spaces. Despite this fact, they continue to get more and more with the fervent support of area legislators AND County Exec Matthew Meyer. In an act of corruption involving both State Legislators, Meyer sold out Ogletown-S. Newark by refusing to purchase the Orphanage Property -- the last park opportunity for the entire region.

From WDEL | A Delaware Superior Court ruling issued August 18, 2020, went in favor of New Castle County in its ongoing efforts to stifle development of a 180 acre parcel in Pike Creek Valley.

New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer was pleased with the Court's decision against Pike Creek Recreational Services (PCRS) in connection with the former Three Little Bakers golf course.

"There's a deed restriction," said Meyer. "I've thought from day one it's pretty clear, it's got to remain a golf course. [Full Article . . .]

Fail Again: East Coast Greenway in Ogletown

Surprise! (not). Townsend & Osienski are either oblivious or simply don't care about bike/ped access in their districts, or they would've been on top of this. Cross-posted from 1st State Bikes. 

According to the East Coast Greenway (ECG) website greenway.org: The East Coast Greenway is a walking and biking route stretching 3,000 miles from Maine to Florida, connecting our nation’s most populated corridor. The East Coast Greenway is designed to transform the 15 states and 450 communities it connects through active and healthy lifestyles, sustainable transportation, community engagement, climate resilience, tourism, and more. The Greenway offers a safe place for bicyclists, walkers, runners, and more — of all ages and abilities — to commute, exercise, and visit new destinations.

For Delaware's portion of the ECG: Enjoy the charming historic city of New Castle before continuing on the New Castle Riverfront Greenway along the Delaware River and heading westward to Newark, starting out on the Penn Farm Trail. The route incorporates a mix of side paths and roads to Newark, a small college town near the Maryland border where travelers will find themselves on the James F. Hall Trail before hitting the road again to the Maryland border.

There are numerous infrastructure and safety issues with the East Coast Greenway (ECG) in Delaware. Among them a section of shared use path (SUP) along Route 4 in Ogletown, where it crosses Augusta Drive to a 1 block section of shared Route 4 frontage street. This crossing is impeded by a raised N-S center median and there is no marked crossing through it. Crossing here is taking your life in your hands, with high speed traffic blindly turning onto Augusta exactly where ECG users attempt to cross.

Very recently, this intersection was marked out for a traffic signal upgrade (photo left). In contacting DelDOT, it turns out that other features are being replaced as well, including pedestrian refuge islands and corner curb ramps. An existing pedestrian crosswalk across Route 4 to the "Shops at Augusta" (a small strip mall) will also be refreshed, but DelDOT will not be adding a crossing of Augusta to maintain ECG continuity.

Why isn't the ECG part of this upgrade? Even leveling the median for an unmarked at-grade crossing would be of help, as bicyclists are likely to circumvent around nearer to the lanes of Route 4. We wrote to DelDOT to inquire, and learned that none of this would be considered. In their words, "this signal rebuild has a limited scope and would not be able to address the geometric issues regarding the installation of a new crossing on SB Augusta Drive. However, as you requested we can add the R10-15 (turning vehicles yield to pedestrians sign) on the right side of SB Augusta Drive. It will be added at the end of the construction. In addition, we will forward your request for this intersection to DelDOT Project Development or the PAR program for further investigation or consideration in future projects" and "it would have doubled the scope of the project in both time and cost".

Adding a R10-15 on southbound Augusta is hardly solace for what should have been. This was a big pathways opportunity missed that could and should have earned the scope of this signal project. Minus any fix -- even a simple median leveling as suggested -- Augusta will now remain an impediment, as an unmarked and unsafe crossing in the ECG for years to come. It will still require stepping over or biking around a median in an uncontrolled manner (YouTube video). Meanwhile, there are plenty of examples of crosswalks added in similar rehab projects around Delaware one could point to. And, It has been understood for a decade now that Complete Streets improvements should be considered via reconstruction & rehab projects if at all possible -- even if additional funds might be needed. The ECG right of way should be of no exception.

Par for the course. Just like the loss of the Orphanage Property as a park and pathways system (the region's last chance), privilege does indeed matter. Ogletown-S. Newark is 'undeserving' of these amenities based largely on socio-economic status. Other regions of higher rank and privilege fair much better in Delaware when it comes to multi-modal and community investment. Think: would it be the same outcome if this involved the Delaware Greenway in North Wilmington?

For the record: As we have seen over and over again, it was just another failure on the part of oversight orgs such as Bike Delaware, Wilmapco, DE Greenways, and area Legislators that a critical greenways/pathways improvement opportunity came and went with nary a peep. If they weren't made aware, perhaps DelDOT lacks the mechanism to reach out when a rehab or reconstruction project impacts a SUP pathway system like the ECG? Each of these org's missions emphasizes the need for multi-modal connectivity and networks that facilitate safe bicycling and walking. Bike Delaware in particular has a dismal track record in this regard.

Above: Google Streetview. East Coast Greenway 8' wide SUP is seen coming down from the above left straddling the Route 4 shoulder/bike lane to the side street intersection of Augusta Drive. A narrow sidewalk continues north on Augusta but there lacks any safe crossing of Augusta to continue east bound on the ECG (or vice versa).

Privilege Has Its Rewards: Part 3

The article below is from an article on the City of Newark's website, posted on 3-4-2020.

Groundbreaking Scheduled for New Park and Stormwater Facility

The City of Newark is excited to announce the site of the former Caesar Rodney Residence Hall located at 103 Hillside Road is ready for construction. In place of the dormitories, the City, with support from the University of Delaware and Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC), will build a seven-acre public park with .75 miles of accessible trails, a natural play area and outdoor classroom. The site will also contain a stormwater pond to address flooding and water quality concerns along with amenities such as a fishing pier, floating wetlands and observation deck. Earth moving will begin the week of March 16th.

The name of the park will be determined by the public through a survey distributed by the City. The survey will launch on Friday, March 13th and submissions are due by 4:00 on Thursday, March 26th. City staff will present the top six names to Mayor Jerry Clifton and members of City Council for consideration and approval [Full Article . . . ]

Once again, too bad that Ogletown-S. Newark will never see these kinds of amenities. Living in this grossly disenfranchised region of New Castle County among the "unwashed" (as viewed by Senator Townsend, Rep Osienski and NCC's Matt Meyer and Elisa Diller), "quality of life" doesn't stand a chance. For these four -- all Democrats -- a Wawa or Royal Farms with 12 gas pump islands is "place-making" and building communities. There are simply no words to describe the injustice, and the preferential treatment of one community over another where parks and commons is concerned.

How rotten and disgusting they really are, especially Senator Townsend as the highest ranking and easily the most influential Legislator in the bunch. For both he and Rep Osienski, throwing away the Orphanage Property and the last chance for a regional park was payback time to their campaign donors, mainly consisting of developer and building interests.

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Privilege Has Its Rewards: Part 5

This post was featured on Bike Delaware's Facebook page on April 11. It's pretty self-explanatory, in terms of what regions of New Castle County receive priority based on socio-economic status. Surely, Osienski will head over there again, outside his District 24, to help cut the ribbon with Baumbach (Rep, 24th) when completed. Maybe Sen Townsend will join in this time. Bike Delaware is a developer's wet dream, in terms of a fake "non-profit" org that drives advocacy only for the privileged few; forget the 'unwashed', those living in the vast suburbs that include Ogletown-S. Newark.

Privilege Has Its Rewards

Just the latest project for PEOPLE and quality of life happening in Newark proper, largely pioneered by State Legislators and Officials:

NEW PATH LINKS FAIRFIELD CREST TO POMEROY TRAIL
“This was our little haven. This was our little secret. Nobody else knew about this,” Garvin recalled. “Now, we have thousands and thousands of people who are going to take advantage of it, and it is an incredible thing for the city of Newark, New Castle County and the state of Delaware.”

Improving the trail has long been a priority for residents of Fairfield, Fairfield Crest and surrounding neighborhoods, as well as the cycling community.

 “This creates a really nice connection to our downtown to help promote alternative modes of transportation, riding your bike, walking, improving your health, getting into nature. All these things are really important for our quality of life and reasons why people would want to come to Newark and live and work here.”

State Rep. Paul Baumbach said the trail is a long time coming. “The connection makes all the difference here,” he said. “This connects us, the community, to the university, to the state park, to the city parks. It finishes these pieces that are so important.”

“The trail connects with the other parks and other places, but people connect, too,” McBride said. “They connect with each other, they connect with the natural world, and they connect with their best selves.”

Other people projects . . .

Council approves additional funds for controversial bike bridge
Last estimated at $1.75 million, the project’s cost is now expected to surpass $2 million, though the exact amount won’t be known until the project goes out for bid, according to Newark Parks and Recreation Director Joe Spadafino.

Newark Country Club creates Certified Wildlife Habitat
The Newark Country Club recently revamped its grounds to become a Certified Wildlife Habitat through the National Wildlife Federation’s Garden for Wildlife program.

Curtis Mill Park set to open Oct. 17
The park will include a plaza, a meadow, landscaping and a 12-to-15 car parking lot. Workers salvaged a number of bricks from the smokestack that once stood on the property and will use them in the construction of a plaza area that will contain kiosks with historical information and photographs of the former paper mill.

Pomeroy and Newark Rail Trail
Local and state dignitaries toasted the newly completed Pomeroy and Newark Rail Trail Monday as a premiere hiking and biking destination that will set a recreational standard throughout the region.

Too bad that Ogletown-S. Newark will never see these kinds of amenities. Living in this grossly disenfranchised region of New Castle County among the "unwashed" as viewed by Senator Townsend, Rep Osienski and NCC's Matt Meyer and Elisa Diller, "quality of life" doesn't stand a chance. For these four -- all Democrats -- a Wawa or Royal Farms with 12 gas pump islands is "place-making" and building communities.

How rotten and disgusting they really are, especially Senator Townsend as the highest ranking and easily the most influential Legislator in the bunch. For both he and Rep Osienski, throwing away the Orphanage Property and the last chance for a regional park was payback time to their campaign donors, mainly consisting of developer and building interests.

View all articles in this series