what's the "privatizing the parks" thing... alarm bells ringing...
It has been done in a few places around Ohio. (I've read there are at least a couple in the Columbus area.) That plan has its good and bad aspects, obviously, and may at some time make for a seperate thread of discussion. Suckerspawn braought up some good points, it might be illegal--through virtually inviolable deed restrictions--for some cities to give up park lands.
Heck, the state of Ohio has made attempts to
give away some of
their parks, ones that generate little or no revenue but (naturally) continue to require upkeep. I read where they tried to do that with two state parks in the SE part of Ohio. One was Strouds Run, near Athens. Both the city and Ohio University turned them down because of stipulations involving not tearing out the trees, draining the lake, etc. to put up structures, it had to be kept as green space.
Was glad that deal went sour, Strouds Run has a pistol/rifle range. (I guess it's still there, haven't been out that way in a couple years now.) Although not maintained very well it was handy when I was visiting the area.
As to Oberlin, I believe that even such a liberal bastion's residents would bristle at a protracted court fight with Ohio, since the matter has already been settled statewide.
