THE PROBLEM: A fence around a Fells Point playground needed repair.
THE BACKSTORY: This week's Watchdog stems from a bit of misunderstanding.
Karen W. Schardt often walks her dog at Thames Street Park in Fells Point, and she took note of an unfinished fence around the playground.
"Half of that fence has been missing since last summer," she said.
In an e-mail to Watchdog, Schardt described the orange construction netting as unsightly and wondered why it had been left that way after renovation last year.
It turns out that work was not complete. Greenspace Action Partnership, a volunteer neighborhood organization, has worked for years to improve the park, leaders said.
"It started off as just a simple thing three years ago," said the partnership's president, Amy McGroarty. The group removed hedges and the perimeter fence that unsavory visitors used to hide behind for illicit activity.
After conversations with police and community charettes, the project evolved to adding a gazebo, lighting and other improvements.
A contractor had donated labor and materials for earlier phases of the project but was unable to continue after the winter, because of the economic downturn, McGroarty said.
The partnership secured city and private grants for the next phase, but it took time to get permits and city approval for contractors and agreements.
Now, with the arrival of warm weather, work has resumed on grading the playground, repairing the fence and installing other items.
"We've tried our best to keep the community in the loop," said the partnership's secretary, Kathy Broadbent. "So many people use that park, and it is a city park, so it's hard to reach everyone."
Schardt was happy when she saw work had resumed at the park Monday, and to learn that the fence would be fixed.
"It is a nice park. You want it to stay clean," Schardt said.
WHO CAN FIX THIS: City residents should call 311 to report problems.
Need help?
Is there something in your neighborhood that's not getting fixed? Tell us where the problem is and how long it's been there by e-mailing watchdog@baltsun.com or calling 410-332-6735.
