Temporary Triumphs

And a lot of permanent questions.

Saint Paul is really a great big small town.  SPicy just loves how much people love the quaintness of our community.  It doesn't take much time for news to spread and excitement to build in anticipation of big news and major announcements.

SPicy has been getting calls and emails about a big announcement from Mayor Coleman's office about a big event for today - Friday, September 21.  Something new is going to become part of our bustling downtown – and the Mayor himself is going to do the official welcoming duties.

SPicy was really excited at the possibility of Saint Paul becoming an even MORE livable community.  What could be the big news?

It would have to be something big to get the time and attention of the Mayor and his staff.

It would have to something good for Saint Paul if it's happening downtown.

It would have to be a sign of hope for the people dreading the tax bill and the 14.8% tax increase that is on way.

Unfortunately – it's none of the above.

Here's the official word:

Mayor Coleman to Welcome Saint Paul's Newest Park

Mayor's Parking Space to be Transformed into a Public Park as Part of National Park(ing) day

Saint Paul Mayor Chris Coleman today announced that the city will gain a temporary new downtown park for a few hours on Friday, thanks to a partnership with the Trust for Public Land.  As a part of the National Park(ing) day event, City's Division of Parks and Recreation will turn the Mayor's parking space in to a public park.

"The City of Saint Paul is blessed with a world-class, award winning parks system.  This event brings to light the value of public green space, and allows us to rededicate ourselves to making the preservation and expansion of parks and open spaces a priority in Saint Paul," Coleman said.

A temporary park at a time when there are some more permanent needs for the community has left SPicy confused – and full of questions.

If the Mayor can transform a mere parking space into a treasured park, can he now transform an empty storefront or office building into a new business, store, restaurant, or anything else that would actually pay taxes?

When this space goes back to being a parking space, does this constitute a loss of park land?  There is an ordinance that requires the city to replace park space.  Will the city have to now acquire land to replace the loss of the temporary park?

If we can have temporary parks, can St. Paul have a temporary mayor?  Maybe we could get the other Coleman (Norm) to come back for a half-day?.  He might be able to do more in just a few hours to create jobs than this administration has done in almost two years.

If city staff has time to create a temporary park in front of city hall, does this mean they are able now to fully maintain the existing parks and recreation centers that we hear need so much work and maintenance?

Since Saint Paul is so committed to community and process, were there temporary charettes to plan out the vision for the park – and do we now need to create a temporary design center to facilitate community input into future projects?

Will this park temporarily enhance the city's ongoing riverfront renaissance?

Can you take permanent pictures of a temporary park – and how many times will the Saint Paul Riverfront Corporation and the Capital City Partnership claim credit for the result?

Will Whitney Clark and the Friends of the Mississippi River welcome this additional greenspace and then protest the fact it will have been reverted back to an evil, auto-focused use?

Is it at all ironic that on the same day the Mayor is touting his work to create a temporary park, the person who has the job the Mayor wants (Governor Tim Pawlenty ) is today touring the site what will be a permanent new park -  the new Lake Vermillion State Park?

As SPicy spends more time thinking about the park and the many questions it raises, it's easy to snicker at the absurdity of it all.

What's not so funny is the real, permanent challenges the city faces that seem to get less attention.

They remain – long after the temporary glow from a temporary park has faded from view.