Once on Lawrence Drive in Columbus, not only was there was a spacious walking track for neighbors and friends to take daily walks, it also had a grassy area where neighborhood kids could play football, baseball and have fun in general.
While the walking track remains, the once grassy area where kids could romp and play is now a big, gaping hole filled with mud and water as a detention pool is being constructed there, courtesy of the city of Columbus.
Lillie Carpenter, who has lived on Lawrence Drive since 1974 said she was told a detention pond was being built there to keep away flood waters from Maple and Poplar streets.
“My camper trailer is filled with dirt from all the work that has been done there the past two months. I called the supervisors and asked them if they could get someone to come sweep these streets because it is nothing but a muddy mess,” she said.
City of Columbus Public Works Director Mike Pratt said the purpose of this detention pond is to retain water, then hold it for a temporary period, and release it.
“It is to help the drainage system in East Columbus,” he said.
Pratt said work began on the detention pond in sometime in late October, but weather has delayed completion of the project.
“We hope to have everything complete within the next 30 days. We will do seed work to put in more grass, and repair damage to the track,
Carpenter said no one from the city or the county came to her home or the neighborhood to let people know they were putting in the detention pond, which Columbus-Lowndes Recreation Authority Director Roger Short said is “going to help alleviate flooding and water problems” in the East Columbus area. The project was initiated by former Ward 2 City Councilman Doug Mackay prior to his death in 2008.
“This used to be a nice area, and they have come in here and made this mess. I have concerns about this retention pond mostly because there are children living here, and they could get in it, and something could happen,” Carpenter said.
Arthur Whitfield, who also lives on Lawrence Drive, said he contacted Columbus Mayor Robert Smith and Ward 2 Councilman Joseph Mickens to express his opposition to the construction of the detention pond.
“I asked them to send someone over here to clean up, but it was several days before they sent anyone. They didn”t do anything until after they finished digging up the pond,” he said, noting every time he has tried to call Mickens, he hasn”t gotten a response.
“He won”t answer his phone. I can”t tell you how many times I tried to call,” Whitfield said.
He, too, opposes the construction of the pond because of safety concerns.
“Also, when summer comes, there will be mosquitoes and snakes. With the mosquitoes, there is the chance of someone getting the West Nile Virus,” Whitfield said.
Mickens this morning said the detention pool project was something he inherited when he took office last June.
“This project was already in place before this council took office. I had spoken with some constituents along Maple, Poplar and Juanita streets who expressed concerns about flooding,” said Mickens, noting the detention pool is only “a temporary solution to the drainage problem” in East Columbus.
“We need to find more grant money or other funding in order to solve the drainage problem in East Columbus permanently,” he said.
Carpenter has spoken with Short, who, she said, assured her there would be a fence around the pond.
Short, this morning, said he has been told the city would put a fence around the basin.
“I have been told that the city plans to put up a fence,” he said. “Whether they do or do not, I”m not sure. If they need our assistance, then we will help them,” he said.
As of now, Pratt said, there are no plans to erect a fence.
“Because this is a detention pond, there are no plans to put up a fence, at least by the plans we have,” he said.
Short also said, “When it”s completed, everything will be back the way it is. They haven”t destroyed the walking track; it”s just real muddy and looks bad.”
With or without a fence, once the area is cleaned up, having a pond in the area still concerns neighbors.
“It also concerns me about mosquitoes and snakes if they put in this retention pond. If it rains too much, Lawrence Drive could have flood problems too. They can put a fence up to protect the kids, but it won”t protect us from the water,” Carpenter said.
Frank Leonard, who was taking a stroll along the oval walkway as the sun began to set, said he wishes the city and others would leave the area alone.
“I have been here since 1996. I like this area because it is peaceful and quiet. I am against this pond being built because it is going to cause more problems than help,” he said.
Frank”s wife, Dorothy, also echoed his sentiments.
“The city says they want to build parks for kids, but they don”t want to save this area for kids to play? They say they have no money to fix our streets, but they can put in this pond? No, I am not for it! They need to clear the drains on this street before they do anything else,” she said.
Stacey Summerville said she has a son who has wanted to go play in the area.
“When the water was frozen, he wanted to go play in it. He wanted to go skate on it, but I didn”t let him because I was worried he would get hurt or worse. I wish they would hurry up and fix that hole,” she said.
Allen Baswell was previously a reporter for The Dispatch.
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