The nerve of those ingrate citizens!!!! Just because they paid to build Tempe Town Toilet doensn't mean they get to use it for free!!!!! They should pay the Tempe City Council money to use it just like everybody else does!

Source

Council is listening to Town Lake woes

Apr. 19, 2006 12:00 AM

What's a good thing to some isn't always a good thing to everyone else.

Witness Tempe's official Web site as it gushes about the success of Town Lake.

"As most Valley residents could tell you," it says, "Tempe Town Lake is a great place to find a party. With more than 100 special events each year, the lake rocks."

Some people, however, don't want it to rock. At least not all the time.

They just want it to roll. They want it to roll gently past the shores, its little waves offering rhythmic counterpoint to bird song on cool mornings and sunny afternoons, a calm oasis for peaceful strolls and quiet meditations.

Alas. There is so much rocking going on that the rolling is but an afterthought.

Not that the rocking is a bad thing. The lake and its activities have provided downtown Tempe with a vibrancy that's unique in all the Valley. It's amazing what a few acres of water behind some rubber dams can do to help put (and keep) a town on the map.

But some folks at a recent City Council meeting said Tempe may be overlooking its own citizens as it pursues big-dollar events along the lake and in Tempe Beach Park. We paid for those amenities, they argue. Why should we be shut out weekend after weekend from walking along the waterfront? Why should down-home events be shoved aside?

Those are absolutely valid questions and, to its credit, the City Council is listening. It asked the city's events staff to create a committee of business, tourism and community members to consider uses of the lake and park.

They have a tall order. It'll be tough not to sign renewal deals for already established and lucrative activities. But perhaps proposals for new ones will have to be weighed more carefully in light of these newly emerging community concerns. Even in a busy downtown like Tempe's, there should be some times for peace and quiet.

All in all, though, this is a good problem to have, isn't it? Everyone loves the lake, for as many reasons as there are people to love it. It's been a boon to civic pride and is now coming into its own as an economic generator. Just as its visionary promoters had hoped.

Not everyone will be happy with whatever compromises will have to be worked out. But a lot of towns would be tickled pink to be in Tempe's shoes.