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HISTORY Originally, this lot, located at the bottom of Arden Place 41/1 below the present Freeway Park, was purchased for parking space for the hockey rink at Freeway Park. Since few people have altered their parking habits and parking continues to occur predominantly on County Road E, some residents nearby thought that this lot could be used more efficiently and contribute rather than detract from the appearance of the neighborhood. It was felt that the play equipment presently situated in the corner of Freeway Park ,would be used more frequently if it were a part of a mini-park rather than in a corner where it now must stand because of the space needed for skating in the winter. Upon inspection, however, tha-equipmerit was found to be in poor condition, and it was felt that a new play structure that would blend in with a more naturally landscaped area would more fully enhance the neighborhood and attract more neighborhood use. With these thoughts in mind, preliminary plans were drawn to maximize the use of this lot and still keep it an attractive part of the neighborhood. An extensive border designed to provide year round screening for the adjacent neighbor and color and birds for park users as well as defining a restful picnic area defines the western border of the park and discourages traffic from entering the park from any route but the street entrance. The play areas were kept to the east to minimize any noise for the closest neighbors. Since it is hoped that a larger park will someday be located across County Rd. E, the play areas in this smaller lot were designed with the younger children in mind that would not be able to cross busy E by themselves. Some thought was also given to the parents that might accompany the very young and wish to have attractive place to sit. At the present time there is a rough area extending from Clenarden Rd. into the park area. In response to adult request for tennis facilities, it was thought that this was sufficient area to provide a hard surface area that would acomodate two tennis backboard areas as well as double for use as a basketball practice area and for other activities such as roller skating. There is presently a lack of hard surface areas other than streets for such purposes in the neighborhood. After the plans were drawn, a neighborhood meeting was held in February, 1974. The response was good and helpful comments made. The attending neighbors were very enthusiastic about the plans and after a few minor changes were agreed upcn,it was decided that the new plan be submitted to the Park and Recreation Committee. This was done along with a suggested schedule for implementation of the plan. The Park and Recreation Committee responded favorably to the plan with the one reservation that a few members were worried about giving up the parking space that was originally suppose to go in this area during hockey games. Two possible ways to handle this problem have been suggested: (1) Schedule hockey games for other rinks where parking does exist until parking can be worked out across County Rd E in a new park area that is large enough to handle it (if such land can be obtained in the future) and (2) a more immediate but hopefully temporary solution would be to put in removable posts at the south end of the tennis area and allow 7ainter parking as before in this one area south of the backboard.