Petition to keep Freedom Park
COMMERCIAL-FREE

We, the undersigned, petition the Mecklenburg Parks and Recreation Commission and the County Commission to protect Freedom Park from the sale of "naming rights" to the park or any part of the park.

We oppose the current plan to sell
naming rights or "sponsorships" to
Scott Clark Toyota.

- Freedom Park is a treasure that belongs to ALL the people of Mecklenburg County. Neither the park nor any part of the park should ever be "sold" to private interests.

- Freedom Park was dedicated to the sacrifices of the veterans of World War II. This dedication and honor should not be compromised or overshadowed by the promotions of private or commercial interests.

- Freedom Park should be maintained as a commercial-free, natural area for recreation and respite for all people. It should be protected from the privatization of advertising, billboards, commerical promotions, or identification with private brands or logos.

Petitioners' Comments

3/5/2006; 7:38:29 AM
This would cheapen "Freedom Park" drastically. Sometimes I wonder what is wrong with our city leaders.

3/11/2006; 4:12:41 PM
Right now the proposal involves having a car dealership sponsor the park or is it the bandshell? But where will it end? Sponsorships for the swings? Certain trees? Individual picnic areas? Benches? or the Train? A park should be a place to escape from advertisements, sponsorships, naming rights, deadlines, the sale of private merchandise and amplified music.

3/11/2006; 5:34:08 PM
This proposal is absolutely ridiculous. Parks and Rec is going to go for a money grab and sell its soul in the process. The "sponsor" is going to have the ability to hold events in the park in exchange for their money. "Come on down it's the Freedom Park Toytathon. We have hundreds of cars for you to see down here and we will not be undersold. We will be out here all weekend or until Parks and Rec makes us leave, which is not likely to happen as we still have $8,000.00 promised for the future. Come on down and take the opportunity to drive a new Toyota around the lake". If Parks and Rec is going to sell out Freedom Park I would prefer they just go ahead and sub-divide the park and sell it off in home plots, at least then it would not be a commercial district.

3/9/2006
I have the original certificate my Grandfather received when he donated money for the construction Freedom Park back in the 1940's. On the back was the master plan for the park. Times change and so did the plan as many things like swimming pools were never build. But some things are timeless like the name "Freedom Park". Our Fore Fathers could have used any name for the park and pick "Freedom" in honor of those who had protected ours then and today ... I hope we do not sell them out. This park belongs to the people of Charlotte not business or private interests.

3/9/2006; 7:13:22 AM.
Please stop the sacrifice of Charlotte's history and character to the worship of money. We can do better than this. If we don't, soon our entire city will have lost its soul and no one will want to live here.

3/4/2006; 4:48:56 AM
Mecklenburg County Park & Recreation can make a nice "award" plaque with a picture of Freedom Park on it and text that thanks Scott Toyota for their financial contribution to Freedom Park. They can then hang this plaque in THEIR dealership. We do not need to turn OUR park into a home for billboards.

3/9/2006; 4:07:32 PM.
I fully support the effort to prevent commercial naming rights to any part of this park, or parks in general. A few reasons follow:

1. The deal is stretched over nine years, so the net impact of those dollars really are negligible.
2. Not that the dollars matter so much; we shouldn't be commercializing our public facilities and property. What's next: The Hendrick BMW Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Ford Crown Victoria patrol vehicle?? It would save the PD thousands upon thousands, but don't look to see that any time soon. Once we start, where do we stop?
3. It's a slippery slope in which process and lawsuits soon get in the way. Who is denied the opportunity to purchase rights? Is there a legitimate bid process in place? Was SCTC's offer accepted without competition? Do we offer lower profile naming rights to second and third and fourth place finishers? Perhaps the Knight Ridder walking bridge or the Subway baseball field? Soon, there could be complete commercialization of the parks.
4. Despite any commercialization of the parks, I suspect our taxes committed to parks would likely continue to increase. Has there been any study undertaken to estimate and determine the impact of commercial dollars in offsetting tax dollars contributed to Parks and Recreation? Would this result in a reduction in property taxes levied or would commercial dollars be windfalls for Parks and Rec?

3/4/2006; 6:48:36 AM
The aforementioned statement makes my decision easy and should make it easy for any city official to be convinced that preservation of the current Freedom Park status is the only logical direction to take and continue. Preservation of our environment dictates that we re-examine and consider reducing the presence of automobiles. Let's consider hiding them from public view - now that would be a novice idea. For now: No Scott-Clark in or around Freedom Park! Thanks for listening!

3/6/2006; 8:05:36 PM.
Freedom Park is a place to renew the spirit from the onslaught of a constant barrage of advertisements. I ask that the park remain the peaceful oasis for all to enjoy and that Park Officials and Legislators find other ways to fund the maintenance of it.

3/4/2006; 4:34:12 AM
The Parks are what make a city livable. If companies what to be a part of our community, have them just support the parks with a check and have them challenge others to do the same. People will react to the commitment far more than the advertising.

3/4/2006; 11:10:16 AM
Freedom Park is one of Charlotte's gems. I and my family enjoy going there even though it is miles away from our home in Country Club Heights. Please act to preserve its unique, historic, and community-friendly qualities. Although there might be an economic incentive to re-name the park, much more would be lost than gained by linking it to a commercial enterprise.

3/4/2006; 8:00:24 AM
Keep the park commercial free please.

3/7/2006; 4:56:05 AM
The more trees we cut down, the more signs we can put up. Right. Yeah, and we could fill in the lake and have even bigger commercial sponsors. Duh! It's a PARK.

3/5/2006; 6:37:00 PM.
Please let Freedom ring! And keep the park the same name

3/4/2006; 9:04:05 AM.
Is Parks/Rec crazy???? Do not sell naming rights to anyone! It is FREEDOM PARK. Leave it that way.

3/6/2006; 6:37:24 AM.
Our government should not be selling naming rights to our public places. Nor should our government be selling parts of our public parks for private interest. Freedom Park in a Charlotte landmark. It should remain that landmark with its given name, Freedom Park.

3/4/2006; 4:37:55 AM
I fully support the ideas in this petition.

3/4/2006; 11:56:26 AM
Freedom Park is in honor and memory of our World War II veterans who sacrificed so we could all have our freedom. It's not a memorial to Scott Clark Toyota dealership. If it is privatized with advertisements, it dishonors our veterans and their contributions to our country.

3/4/2006; 6:47:37 AM
Freedom cannot be sold. Get it? Its FREEDOM Park. you can't make it COMMERICAL park in any form!!!

3/5/2006; 12:49:16 PM
Let's keep this untouched commercially

3/4/2006; 5:11:25 AM
Keep the beauty and integrity of Freedom Park intact. Any commercialization or "sponsorship" connected with Freedom Park is against the cause and integrity of Freedom Park. I oppose all the commercialization and/or sponsorship of this park. Keep it clean! Any intentions and deceptions to commercialize/sponsor this park are shameful! I don't even live in Charlotte, but I care enough when I pass by Freedom Park to love it and cherish its integrity.

3/4/2006; 7:16:49 AM
We feel strongly that Freedom Park needs to remain commercial free and as natural as possible for all to enjoy.

3/4/2006; 10:14:16 AM
I fully support keeping Freedom Park commercial-free. There are so many intrusive pitches from commercial interests in our lives, our parks should not fall to the ax of commercialism. This would profane the tremendous sacrifices made by our WWII generation of men and women who fought and paid a dear price to uphold the dignity of every human being. Thanks for sending this along and for the good work you are doing on behalf of the community. It['s refreshing to be part of a grassroots effort like this.

3/4/2006; 6:36:21 AM
As unpopular as this sentiment may be, it's not always about money. Please preserve the few places we have left where we're not bombarded by commercials, billboards, and "sponsorships."

3/4/2006; 9:28:57 AM
I grew up on Sterling Avenue from 1956 to 1975. I still use the Park today. I like it just the way it is. It has been a haven from the rest of the hustle and bustle of the city. It's green space not a place to do business. We have enough of that and way too little green space.

3/5/2006; 3:07:04 PM.
While I do not live in Charlotte currently, I was born and raised in Mecklenburg County and still visit Freedom Park whenever I come to town to see relatives. I was happy with the progress made on my last visit a few weeks ago.

3/4/2006; 4:35:02 AM
Please let Freedom Park remain commercial free.

3/4/2006; 5:25:55 AM
Don't ruin Freedom Park!

3/4/2006; 5:48:19 AM
I totally oppose giving this car company all this advertising for a mere $1000 a year. That will damage the looks of our park for next to nothing... outrageous

3/4/2006; 5:42:58 AM
I support this petition.

3/4/2006; 4:35:33 AM
Let it just be Freedom Park. Let's don't tacky up EVERYTHING in our city by naming it after a store or business. I am in favor of removing forever the possibility of this park being "commercialized" in any manner.

3/4/2006; 6:47:26 AM
PLEASE do not make this park or any park all about the money and self-promotion of a company. Maintain and protect the beauty of the park in a natural state. We see Scott Clark on TV enough. The whole idea of commercializing any park is disgusting.

3/6/2006; 9:36:35 AM
AN AUTO DEALERSHIP IS COMPLETELY CONTRADICTORY TO WHAT FREEDOM PARK REPRESENTS. PARK= SOLACE, CLEAN AIR, BEAUTY, FOOT TRAFFIC AND EXERCISE, ETC.AUTOMOBILES REPRESENT: SMOG, NOISE, ASPHALT, EXCUSE TO NOT WALK SOMEWHERE, FOSSIL FUEL CONSUMPTION, MIDDLE EAST INSTABILITY, AND CONGESTION!!!!!!!!

3/6/2006; 8:19:48 AM
Don't do it. Don't sell out.

3/6/2006; 6:53:36 AM
Please keep Freedom Park free. Thanks.

3/6/2006; 6:43:47 AM
I was born and raised in Charlotte across the street from Freedom Park. It is a treasure that does belong to everyone.

3/6/2006; 2:48:24 PM. Having been born and raised In Charlotte, I deplore the selling of history. Freedom Park is our history.
3/6/2006; 1:56:18 PM

What? how can they even think about doing that. geez....of all the cheap ways to get a buck.

3/6/2006; 1:39:03 PM
A park is a sanctuary to escape the onslaught of marketing we have to endure everywhere we turn in our world. The park is the last place we can go to be at peace without highway billboards, e-mail pop-up ads and telemarketers' calls. Thanks!

3/5/2006; 5:50:20 PM
Please don't start down this slippery slope.

3/5/2006; 3:42:11 PM
I oppose the bill most emphatically

3/5/2006; 1:56:53 PM
Who wants to go to a Toyota park when they can go to a Freedom Park?

3/5/2006; 12:05:24 PM
I agree, just because you have a lot of extra money because you own a car dealership doesn't mean you have to ruin what the public has.

3/5/2006; 9:04:50 AM
THE CHANGING OF THIS NAME WOULD BE THE END OF A HOPEFULLY SENSIBLE CHARLOTTE.

3/5/2006; 4:49:18 AM
I loved Freedom Park when I was a kid and I would hate to see it become commercialized.

3/5/2006; 1:56:53 PM
Please do not be so shortsighted. Freedom Park is one of the few places in this city where we get a break from "branding", a respite from reminders of the rampant greed that fuels our contemporary culture. Have you lost your minds?

3/4/2006; 9:47:03 AM
ditto above!!!!!

3/5/2006; 6:37:00 PM
What next, own a tree, rights to a blade of grass? Keep commercialism out of Nature, it has already destroyed other vestiges of civilized life. Stop the madness!

3/4/2006; 9:37:24 AM
paleeeeeeeeasszzee

3/7/2006; 6:21:40 AM
I am tired of money trying to buy everything for their own gain and self worship

3/4/2006; 6:45:31 AM
I did e-mail Jennifer Roberts. Hope the idea has been buried!

3/4/2006; 6:45:24 AM
I do Not appreciate changing the name of Freedom Park, from a name representing the very Principal upon which this country was founded! I Especially do not like changing the name to one which represents a commercial interest.

3/7/2006; 9:55:03 AM
Though not a member, I agree with the goals of the Friends of Freedom Park. Leave Freedom Park as a purely public area without commercials, billboards or tacky name changes. If Scott Clark Toyota wishes to make a donation, by all means welcome them. Give them a graven brick a la the Greenway project, or a little brass plaque on the side of the ball field concession stand.

3/4/2006; 11:55:10 AM
I am not in favor of the Scott Clark sponsorship as it has been presented so far. I feel that discrete financial support and sponsorships for the park may be in order, but that is not what I see with the Scott Clark plan. I also have concerns about the future of the band shell. It has a rich history behind it, and even though it has caused problems with sound amplification in the past and is not in the best condition right now, it can be a useful amenity with proper care and maintenance. I would hate to see a radical change in the structure. I feel Park and Rec jumped into this whole sponsorship thing with Scott Clark without having a clearly defined policy or purpose other than to increase park funding. That action begs for problems.