GROUP UPSET OVER CUTS TO PARKS

“I am a die heard democrat, always have been but this is just killing me inside to see what is happening, not just to the Parks but to the entire city” said Sandy Perkins as she tried to fight back tears. “I love Elyria and I just hate to see this happen.”

Elyria – Ladies from the “Active Group” – one of the Elyria Parks and Recreation Department programs slated to be cut – met Thursday at Krazy Macs in downtown Elyria for some good food and conversation.

The ladies discussed old times, old and new friendships and mostly questioned; “where do we go from here.” You see for most they have been part of the “Active Group” for 20 or more years and now the program is ending due to budget cuts in the City of Elyria.

Virginia Paull lives on Elyria’s north side and has been going to the exercise program for over 20 years; “I’m just devastated by this, we are all devastated by this news. This low impact exercise program is wonderful for us senior citizens – or Active People as they call us – and to lose it now is just a shame.”

Paull says that the instructors who work with the group exercise their arms and legs, “this program is great for joint pain and our Doctors have told us that it is great for diabetics too. It just helps keep you healthy and active. We have been looking for another place to go but so far we just can’t find anything like this program.”

Aside from the exercise and keeping active, Paull and her friends said that the program is also an opportunity for the group to just be together and talk – share their thoughts and ideas. That part of the program they say will be sorely missed.

In another corner of Krazy Macs we found two ladies who were a little feistier and certainly more emotional. Sandy Perkins and Pat Bauer both say that they are going to miss the program and all of the other benefits that the Parks Department provides. “I am a die heard democrat, always have been but this is just killing me inside to see what is happening, not just to the Parks but to the entire city” said Perkins as she tried to fight back tears. “I love Elyria and I just hate to see this happen.”

Bauer said that she is tired of seeing wasteful spending in the city. “Why did our city spend all that money on the River Walk or those flower baskets? I also cannot believe what they are doing to the Fire Department, if I need help and call for them I want them to be there. As a tax paying citizen I expect them to be there.”

While the ladies enjoyed their Krazy Mac dishes, Paull circulated a Recall petition that she picked up from the Stand-Up Elyria headquarters located next door to the restaurant. “Each one of us signed the petition because we believe that the city is not heading in the right directions, we do not believe in what is happening. We want our grandchildren to have the wonderful experiences and opportunities that we had in our great city.”