Update on Proposed Packard Park Redevelopment

On Thursday, 13 April, of this year, Allison Bricker representing the Fairfield Neighborhood Association attended the Packard Area Planning Alliance (PAPA) meeting held at Electric Works. Several other neighborhood associations and individuals were also in attendance. During the meeting, a presentation was given by Fort Wayne Parks & Recreation Deputy Director, Alec Johnson pertaining to the proposed redevelopment of Packard Park.

Prelude

As you may know from attending prior Fairfield Neighborhood Association functions, following several discussions with neighbors, Allison began conducting door-to-door canvassing in February to determine if any residents of the Fairfield Neighborhood had previously been approached or received a survey pertaining to the redevelopment of Packard Park. The results thereof revealed 97% of respondents never received a ‘survey,’ with three-percent (3%) reporting they had no recollection. Thus, despite public pronouncements made by several individuals claiming to represent the neighborhood that the survey found ‘wide support’ for demolishing the historic softball field, no proof of said claim was ever made available for review by Fairfield Neighborhood residents.

Who’s on First?

Based on the results from canvassing the neighborhood, Allison reached out to Mr. Johnson in March to attempt to request the so-called survey results. In a lengthy reply, Mr. Johnson indicated that the ‘neighborhood associations’ not the parks department were the custodians of the Packard Park Survey results. Thus, based on the response from Mr. Johnson, Allison drafted additional inquiries to the President of PAPA and the individual from Fairfield who positioned themselves in the past as the lead in both conducting & trumpeting the results of the so-called survey. The reply from both individuals was tantamount to ‘ask the parks.’ Following several additional back and forth hot-potato/kick-the-can email exchanges with each party stonewalling & pointing the finger at the other as custodian of the the survey results, the Board of Directors of the Fairfield Neighborhood Association, felt the PAPA meeting where all three individuals would be in attendance, made for the most reasonable attempt to finally… once and for all… get the answer as to whom is in possession of the much ballyhooed yet Missing-in-Action, Packard Park survey results.

Proof is in the Pudding… or Lack Thereof

Following Mr. Johnson’s presentation, the floor was opened for questions. Seeking clarity, Allison asked whether Mr. Johnson indeed did have the Packard Park survey results, but again he reiterated his reply from the earlier email exchange, stating, “no” … but did add for good measure he doesn’t even really NEED input from the people, that the parks department can do as it so pleases, and that surveys are functionally-speaking a ‘nicety.’ Despite the wildly out-of-touch sentiment from a public servant and in conflict with his own prior statements as to ‘really robust public input being very important,’ Allison then asked the current President of PAPA, who also shook her head no, which left only the individual who had previously claimed the ‘response was overwhelmingly in favor of bulldozing the softball field.’ However, when presented with the same question: ‘do you have the survey results?’ this person stared down at the floor and could only muster up a mutter along the lines of ‘they couldn’t do this.’

Thus, the lie now exposed, i.e. there NEVER was an actual survey or it was simply another Facebook-post-exclusive that received single-digit engagement. As such, it is obvious, the unorganized group that claimed to represent the Fairfield Neighborhood over the past several years, had their own exclusive agenda, which systematically ignored residents in a bid to destroy the historic softball field and turn Packard Park into a pseudo-extension of Lutheran Park’s walking paths.

In light of conducting the necessary due diligence to expose the most unfortunate dishonesty surrounding the Packard Park redevelopment survey, the Fairfield Neighborhood Association is presently in the process of reviewing all options to ensure the voice of neighborhood residents is heard loud & clear from across the south side to city hall. Stay tuned for updates.

“Facta non verba.”