The Boyd Park Fence Proposal
Last week at the monthly steering committee meeting, during public comments, the committee heard a proposal from a former neighborhood resident to support a fence running along the top of the Eau Claire river bank in Boyd Park—from the foot bridge to McGraw Street and up McGraw, just past the playground equipment. The concern was child safety and the river. There used to be a similar (chain link) fence in Boyd Park, but it was removed around 2002 when Boyd Park was revamped. The individual making the proposal has talked about the fence idea with city officials, and the city has basically said, “We are a city of rivers, not fences.” The committee tended to agree and voted against support.
Here’s an interesting comment from resident Ted Barr responding to the vote and talking about similar issues:
Thank you, steering committee, for not supporting a proposal to fence the part of Boyd Park adjacent to the top of the riverbank. Fencing there is unnecessary, and would be costly and unsightly.
Last fall, city workers removed the cyclone fencing bordering Forest Hill Cemetery on Heubsch Blvd. The result is an inclusive, unobstructed view into the green space. The Dodge St. side of the cemetery is still enclosed with cyclone fence. I hope you will encourage the Parks and Forestry Department to remove this fence eventually and to put on hold any plans to re-install fencing on Heubsch.
The paver brick retaining wall on Emery St. is another border of the cemetery that needs to be addressed. A small section of the wall is failing and has needed repair for at least four years. This unique wall is one of the physical aspects of the Eastside Hill that make it a special place and represents a reuse of a material that constituted the earlier roadway. Please do what you can to bring it to the attention of Parks and Forestry and insist on a timetable for repair. Thank you.
As for the Boyd Park fence concept, the individual making the proposal plans to further pursue the issue with the city.

Update on Forest Hill Cemetery fencing: I spoke with Phil Feiber, Director of Parks and Rec. last night after the Parks and Waterway commission meeting. He said there are no plans to re-install a fence on Heubsch Blvd., his department has not yet addressed the Dodge St. fence, and he said the black wrought iron fence on Emery St. would be kept and maintained. He said the brick paver retaining wall on Emery St. falls within the oversight of Public Works.
In my opinion, fencing in this case is for the safety of the citizens, especially to the children playing alongside the river. I hope that the officials could cite the significance in building fences in this area for them not to be blame if something undesirable happens.