While many questions about the Pallet shelter project remain, the one that is currently reverberating through the community is why the temporary shelters are being placed on the one ball field in the city built for the disabled community.
According to the latest reports from the city, the 30 Pallet shelters will be placed in the outfield of the ball field at Pomona Park.
The ball field at Pomona Park is the only one in Greensboro that was designed and built to be accessible to the disabled community. The field was built as an Eagle Scout project with $200,000 in private funds raised to provide a specialized surface for the infield as well as a tabletop flat outfield that can be navigated by children in wheelchairs and who use walkers. One person familiar with the activities on the field said that even small divots can create problems for those using this field.
And there are some discrepancies in the schedule. According to the city, the Pallet shelter project won’t interfere with the activities on the field because the field isn’t used in the winter. But the practices for the leagues that play on the field usually begin in March and according to some information the Pallet shelters will be in use until April.
In most cases, practice could be held on a different field during March, but this field is unique in Greensboro and there is no other field where these teams of disabled children can practice.
Donna Gray, who retired from her long career with the City of Greensboro as the Community Relations Division director in 2021 and also served as the city’s Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) coordinator, said, “To choose the only disabled accessible site in Greensboro is a slap in the face to people with disabilities in our community.”
She said that the Special Olympics and The Arc of Greensboro that use the field had not been notified by the city of the plans to use it for Pallet shelters this winter.
Gray said that she had no opposition to the Pallet shelter project but opposed the location on the only field in the city built for the disabled community.
City Councilmember Zack Matheny said, “The manufacturer doesn’t recommend that the shelters be placed on grass.”
He said, “They’re going to destroy the field and then come back to us and request more funding to fix it.”
He said, “What if a handicapped child or family wants to go out on a nice day this winter and play. That is the only field in the city that is accessible to them.”
Just scrap the whole darn idea. It is full of potential problems that anyone with a lick of sense can predict. How about setting it up on one of the many “ball fields” at A&T that are not used in winter?
Why was Smith Homes torn down that would have been a perfect home for the homeless
Another example of the city not doing their homework and being in hurry to spend tax money without considering the outcome, but just want to look good and support their voter base. Waste of money to start with.
What did you expect from this city council? It is also a big slap in the face to the taxpayers having to fund a half a– program like this.
City Council, a bull in a china shop.
Play Ball!!
Do the homeless hang out in Pomona? Wouldn’t a downtown parking lot be a more central location ? The people who will manage them are also downtown. Sounds like the problem is being moved to another neighborhood!
The morons, who decided to place these Pallet “Homes” on this field, need to be sued by the disabled community.
Councilman Matheny is correct; placing these on grass will result in a mudhole within just a few days of rain.
i am a board certified tiny home foundationer & can design/build a ‘non-grass’ base for your homes for $10k each. this includes ‘uplift’ protection, u forgot about high winds ? i didn’t. talk to your insurance carrier – i’m your solution.
The Greensboro City Council makes me think of the chorus from Aretha Franklin’s song, “Chain of Fools”.
City Councilmember Zack Matheny said, “The manufacturer doesn’t recommend that the shelters be placed on grass.”
He said, “They’re going to destroy the field and then come back to us and request more funding to fix it.”
Zack, how can you be so racist/anti-homeless/all round evil. You don’t want the handicapped citizens of Greensboro to give up their field for those that truly need it?
OK, I can’t do this anymore. I tried to be a liberal/pro-homeless/touchy feely but I just can’t do it. Obviously this “city council” was quickly running out of options and was hoping nobody would notice. And you can bet nobody is going to own up to this decision.
It is unfortunate for any disabled individuals who would like to play or watch baseball; however, I feel like keeping people from freezing to death in cold temperatures should take precedent over anyone’s baseball game.
Is a ballgame a game of life or death? Being out in nature in cruel cold elements is.
F both of you. There are plenty of places in the big city, 62nd largest in the country, to put these shacks. The ONLY place is on the one disabled ball field in the city. Give me a break. This council continues to defy any sense of logic or due diligence. What is the purpose of the hotel on the north side of town?
Well put the homeless in your neighborhood. I’m sure they would be greater with open arms.
they r in my neighborhood – downtown – where they get fed. letz house them close to where we feed them. make sense ? then consider where they will ‘unfood’, ‘trash’, burn those calories misbehaving?
Then put it on one of the many sports fields not built specifically for the disabled.
latham park ! ha ha ha i actually met someone living in the red brick restroom in latham park years ago – summertime – i made a courteous comment – he said jesus provided the toilet for his use – i laughed n beat it out of there.
Just put them in the council members yards. They get what they voted for and the citizens don’t have to clean up their mess. Elections have consequences. These liberal loons could ruin a wet dream!
Use one of the parking decks in the parking garage..
When was the last time you saw ANYONE playing baseball/softball? Soccer now reigns supreme. Put em on golf courses because THAT demographic is dying off quickest and the homeless can have their own garden plot and be somewhat sustainable.
I still like my idea of placing this effort at the Greensboro coliseum. There is fenced security and it could accommodate the parked vehicles as well. Plus the residents would be closer to many of the services they use on a regular basis. Seems like a win all around
good idea
It’s a slap in the face of the Guilford County taxpayer. It’s extortion, that’s what it is.