Rally around the rocket ship

What better place to start a grass-roots movement than a much-loved

community park.

It all started with a problem a while back. It wasn’t a huge

problem. It wasn’t even a big problem, but it was an important

problem to many in the neighborhood.

Bluebird Park was undergoing renovations. It was to be a costly

venture. The winning contractors bid $1,266,000 to do the project.

The problem came when it became apparent that the rocket ship

wouldn’t be saved. They would need another $80,000 to get the rocket

ship replaced. With a starting cost that was already above what was

budgeted, fans of the space-age park staple seemed out of luck.

Then-Mayor Toni Iseman voiced her dismay at the meeting.

“This is the rocket ship park not the Bluebird Park,” she said.

“When you’re taking a look at where a city spends its money, you

recognize that we’re putting on a short track $4.5 million to move

the corporate yard, which will accomplish nothing but a parking lot

that won’t be done for 10 years. This is the children’s park, the

citizens’ park, the locals’ park. It should be a priority.”

Mayor Cheryl Kinsman voted against including the rocket ship in

the cost of renovations, but she wanted the rocket ship to be

replaced and therefore started the Bluebird Park Rocketship Fund in

May. Now, city treasurer Laura Parisi said, more than 60 parties have

contributed to the fund that has more than $5,495 as of December.

Of course, the problem’s not solved. Unfortunately, the solution

is a long way off, but we have no choice but to applaud people when

they don’t just give up. Here’s to a new rocket ship and maybe even a

decorative fence.