I am not sure the meeting is the best place to deal with this. There are 172 pages of other crap that will be talked about that will not be very interesting to those of is who don't live in the neighborhood (I avoid my own neighborhood planning meetings if at all possible). I also contacted my alder, whose district includes QP, and she tells me that the park has not been a lively source of discussion, folks just want it to be a little less scruffy. That said, since none of us had heard about it, our interests have likely not been terribly well represented. Though someone has recognized that the trails are of enough value to include them in the plan.
My re-reading of the page in the plan suggests two actions. The first is to make sure we are represented in the yet to be formed Friends of Quarry Park. I am happy to be a part of that, and will ask around to find out the current nature of that groups; I'll post back when I know more. The second would be to confirm and/or re-establish our current relationship with the City. My understanding has always been that anyone can build anything that doesn't involve lumber or fasteners, but I don't know how formal that agreement is our who it was made between. If anyone has knowledge of that, speak up.
The city site for the neighborhood plan is here;
http://www.cityofmadison.com/planning/HoytParkPlan/. It has a couple contacts and information about Wednesday's meeting, but alot of the stuff us pretty out of date. I will ask around a little more to suss out how important it would be to go to the meeting and let you all know, but I have a hard time believing it would be time well spent.
It might not hurt to have a well-publisised trash-picking-up, weed-pulling and brush-trimming morning to spread our goodwill, if anyone is up for that. And always yield to and be friendly with other users of the park; hell hath no fury like a pissed off bird-watcher.
Jon
