To the Editor:

As longtime seasonal residents of Oak Bluffs, and now full-time residents, we are enthusiastic supporters of the ongoing discussions about the future of our wonderful town. Oak Bluffs has always been a very special place for us. The traditions and character of our town are unique on the Island, and need to be preserved. Even special places, however, need to be renewed and to grow with the times. Old ideas and approaches need to be reexamined and sometimes discarded to make room for new ideas. The successful history of our town has been a result of just such a process. The renovation of the playground in Niantic Park, the opening of the new bowling alley, and the energy about bringing the movie theaters back to life are current projects consistent with that history.

We do believe that the downtown parking situation is an area which calls for openness and creativity. We believe that the renewal of Circuit Avenue will be markedly enhanced by a wise solution to chronic problems with seasonal auto traffic and inadequate sidewalks for us and for the town’s many visitors. In that vein, we are very supportive of creative solutions to help Circuit Avenue and the town in general be more accessible — both to those who drive here and perhaps even more important for those who are strolling our streets, visiting our shops, and dining in our restaurants. Transforming Circuit Avenue into a seasonal pedestrian street is a bold idea that makes sense, but only if car access and parking can be solved.

The proposal to establish new parking spots on Waban Park (a.k.a. Alley Park) makes great sense to us. We say this as full-time homeowners who live on the park. However, in the spirit of creativity, this proposal should be well thought-out. Contrary to some of our fellow town residents’ observations, the park is well used by a wide variety of people. These uses should not be discouraged, but rather enhanced. The park should not simply become a parking lot.

We do believe that a plan to replace the current parking scheme with diagonal spots is basically a good one — if it is coupled with consideration for pedestrian safety, improvement of park aesthetics, and respect for those of us who live on the park.

Currently, Tuckernuck Avenue is very busy with automobile, bus, and pedestrian traffic in the summer. Frankly, in its current state, it is not safe. People and cars are intermixed. The installation of new parking spots along the park needs to be accompanied by the establishment of a pedestrian walkway to the Inkwell and to the town, as well as working streetlights. The aesthetics of the park could also use some improvement, and should be part of any renovation project. And those who live on the park, full-time and seasonal, must be part of the discussion, and treated with respect, not derided as “whiners,” as some have characterized us.

We realize that all of this, if done wisely, will require significant investment of resources and time. We look forward to being a part of the process, and believe that the results will help make an already wonderful place even more special.

Kathy and Bob Laskowski

Oak Bluffs