Submitted by Tim Marsh, Lakes High Class of 1966.
How old are you? Do you remember Lakewood before roundabouts? Am told by a Lakewood resident on 10/4/2021 that roundabouts are being put in/installed/built on Gravelly Lake Drive, one each at Nyanza Park Drive, Veterans Drive and Washington Boulevard intersections. Wow!
Speaking of, “How old are you?,” are you so old you remember fall Saturdays in Lakewood when oak leaves that fell from trees were raked into piles, not “pushed” into piles with noisy leaf blowers? And, do you recall the smell of those oak leaves when homeowners burned them? It was, at least to some memories, a sweet scent even though it was polluting the air and a health hazard.
Yes, I remember these things. I miss the smell of burning leaves in the fall. Yes, the practice polluted the air, but we didn’t think about that then.
As for the roundabouts? What a waste of money and time. Veterans Dr. was only busy twice each day; the VA Hospital’s staff going to work in the morning and then returning home in the afternoon. The rest of the time left that beautiful drive easy to travel. Wait until they decide to “beautify” them. The lawn and/or shrubbery will need to be watered and mowed; what I call “make work” projects.
There were no sidewalks along Veterans Dr. We knew well enough to walk/bike safely on the side of the road. Responsibility was ours. A good part of my paper route was along Veterans Dr.; no incidents to report during those years. I don’t recall anyone ever dying along that road.
I wonder how today’s kids will remember this area 60 years from now.
How can a few burning leaf fires compare to the raging forest fires we have??
All about controlling, folks.
Yes, indeed! Times have changed. at age 5 , our road was dirt,, and dead ended at our home. Dad hired the Jackson brothers to plow our garden with their horses in the spring. Their barn was on Wash Blvd.
American Lake park was privately owned, with a high pier, high dive, and cabanas.
Fond memories of the “good old days.
Veterans drive is an accident waiting to happen. No bike path, road is now narrower with no way to move your car out of traffic if it breaks down or stalls. A 17 ft and a 10 ft sidewalk designated for walking and biking so older people aren’t safe. The traffic circle was completely unnecessary and unwanted. There never was the beginning of a traffic issue there. Somebody had to have gotten rich on this project. Wish I was an investigator and/or a lawyer. The entire city council belongs behind bars for what they have done to our community. Gravelly Lake Drive will be ruined soon with no improved safety, no improved convenience, and no benefit to anyone other than the people getting the kickbacks.
Wait a minute! We now have emergency landing strips (sidewalks) for small aircraft like Cessnas on both sides of Veterans Drive.