Tiny manufacturing plant End Park in Portland , Oregon
There is a friendly difference going on about who has the smallest … umm … park . That ’s a big deal . In the U.S.,Portland ’s Mill Ends Parklays take to the Lilliputian prize ( 2 ’ in diam ) , but a challenge has come from Prince ’s Park ( 15 ’ x 30 ’ ) in Burntwood , England . “ Wait a moment , ” the English say to Portlanders , “ You call that a park ? ” They argue : Can a space fit for fiddling more than “ snail race and as a colony for leprechaun ” be considered a material park ?
Portland leprechaun should be so lucky to have a parking area in their award . Their little cousin , the garden dwarf , is the kitsch du jour . Garden gnomes get whiz treatment at this year’sChelsea Flower Show , but not entirely with affection .
Tiny Mills End Park in Portland, Oregon
As in other parts of rural America , Bathtub Marysstill get deference in preponderantly Catholic Nelson County , Kentucky . stare balls and plastic pink flamingoes have fallen out of favor . Bathtub Marys endure . you could laugh at leprechauns and garden gnomes all you require , but you should n’t take a sanctified shrine for granted . And do n’t forget small decorative Buddha .
The Dalai Lama and Louisville ’s Compassionate Mayor Greg Fischer . Photo by John Nation .
The Dalai Lama was in townsfolk last calendar month . He seems a jolly fellow , when view on the Jumbotron from the far reaches of the jumbo Yum Center . His Holiness laughs at his own jokes . I do that , too . This used to annoy my father . The Dalai Lama ’s audience had far more margin for it . He had a message for the 14,000 reverential ticket holder . “ Compassion and tolerance are not a sign of weakness but a sign of speciality . ” Louisville ’s mayor , Greg Fischer , spoke as well , show pride that Louisville has been show aCompassionate City .
The Dalai Lama and Louisville’s Compassionate Mayor Greg Fischer. Photo by John Nation.
We are a friendly city and , I call back , on the whole , a pretty compassionate people . We ’re tolerant of garden gnomes , too .
Compassionate City is a blade name that wo n’t cost much to maintain . A few hoarding and bumper stickers should do it . We ca n’t , however , cover ground on the inexpensive with Derby City or the City of Parks . We have to keep these two brands moving along , and that cost a passel of money .
The Kentucky Derby , hold in Louisville on the first Saturday in May , is finished in a mere two minute that bring in a chunk of change . The subspecies is a major tourist tie . The bump we get in tax revenues from the festivities helps devote for the City of Parks brand . The city manager likes that ; we all do . But Louisville only has n’t ascertain a way to maintain the blessing of all of its great park . We could start bolstering city revenues by running the Derby every calendar month , but who want a Mint Julep in January ?
Not so big Gnadinger Park in Louisville, Kentucky
Among Louisville ’s 122Metro Parksare the historic Olmsted park . The grand master , Frederick Law Olmsted , Sr . , and his sons , John Charles and Frederick Law Olmsted , Jr. , designed 18 park plus a series of six tree diagram - line parkways . aside from that , we have the beautifulWaterfront Parkalong the Ohio River in business district Louisville . AndThe Parklands of Floyds Fork , in far eastern Jefferson County , is the great green expansion in the country . The United States Conference of Mayors , in 2012 , selected Louisville , along with West Palm Beach , Florida , as the “ most liveable ” cities in the United States . ” Louisville ’s excerpt had much to do with its parks — bountiful and small .
Not so handsome Gnadinger Park in Louisville , Kentucky
Mayor Fischer spoke at anOlmsted Parks Conservancybreakfast fundraiser last calendar month . He gracefully thanked the non - profit administration for restore and preserving the legacy of the Olmsted Parks . The Conservancy has raised over $ 25 million for ballpark improvements since 1989 . There ’s a lot more to be done .
Fischer said there is $ 250 million worth of parks projects , spread out over 122 Metro Parks , waiting to be funded . Louisville ’s common embrace 13,000 acres and include the body politic ’s largest municipal forest ( 6,218 Acre ) . The mayor note a possible referendum for a 1 % tax , three to five years from now , to aid make some of these improvements . In the meantime , there is a blood item in the new budget of $ 150,000 for trees . It ’s a meager start , with Emerald ash borer birth down toward “ functional extinction ” on 10 - 17 % of Louisville ’s tree canopy . ( There are three native ash species in jeopardy . ) The mayor say he ’s determined to havenonet tree loss . This is where promise and prayer figure in . There is no more money , otherwise .
A couple of international mile from my Louisville home there is a claimant , perhaps not a contender for the world ’s lowly populace ’s park , but a worthy little park in every respect .
Little - love Gnadinger Park — all 1,300 square feet of it — sits smack dab in the middle of Louisville ’s Germantown neighborhood . The park is the real wad . Not a hint of kitsch . There ’s a grand tulip
poplar , two benches and even a small cut area . Bob Hill , veteran Columnist for the Louisville’sCourier - Journal , sized - up this slight commons gem:“Think big and sit down small . ”
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erodgan , who has the inspiration of a Sultan , thumb his nozzle at a popular Istanbul park last workweek . Thousands forgather atTaksim Gezi Park , one of Istanbul ’s smallest park , and were fit with tear gas and a heavy paw . The protesters did n’t want sycamores uprooted and the park destroyed . A replica of a military barrack , that will house a shopping plaza , may supercede the park .
The Dalai Lama said that prayer wo n’t heal everything , yet he prays daily . “ Real consequence , ” he state , “ comes through our own action . Action very much based on motivation . ”
Bless and preserve all ballpark crowing and small .
Allen Bush is on the Board of Trustees of Louisville ’s Olmsted Parks Conservancy .
