It seems the park service intends to remove the parking lot we use, replacing it with grass. This is a really big deal to us and, we believe, to the greater City of Albuquerque. What the parking lot provides: 1. Quite regularly there are events at the Hotel Parq Central, in the park itself, or at the APC that already fill the surrounding streets after having filled the parking lot. 2. EDO increased the parking density significantly. Existing businesses on Central already regularly fill the street parking on Elm, extending around the corner onto Gold in both directions. 3. Weddings in the park regularly use the parking at the top of the hill for the wedding party. 4. The historical nature of this road through the park continues but, will be damaged. Historically the road (now parking lot) was used by men to show off their cars, it still is used that way today. Historically the road was used to provide a view of the park, it still is. 5. The city, in the 1970’s, eliminated the portion of Elm St. that extended Southward through the park, reducing our available parking significantly. At that time they (the city) agreed to slightly widen the eastern portion of Highland Park Circle (which they did) to provide some additional parking. This did not fully offset the parking they removed, it was a compromise. What the APC provides to the city: The APC, in the historic Whittlesey House, has fulfilled a variety of unique community uses in the past, and continues to fulfill many of the historic uses of the Highland Park . When listening to the stories of Mary-Lou Heaphy (as a child she grew up in the Whittlesey House) one learns of the rich history of both the Whittlesey House and the park (the park was designed by Mayor Tingley in cooperation with Mary-Lou’s mother Ms McCallum). She speaks of the people and their interpersonal interactions, of the music and the relaxing times, and of the children at play. Today families and communities are different but the importance of community remains. There is a strong and unique bond between the park and the Whittlesey House. The story is, Mrs. M., the then owner of the Whittlesey House, donated the land that encompasses the park to the city, as a park, back when her friend Clyde Tingley was the Mayor. The park and the Whittlesey have, ever since then, been intertwined in their activities. The Highland Park was, and is, about more than children. The Whittlesey House played a significant role in the lives of many, and functions of the park in the past, it also does today. The Albuquerque Press Club works hard to maintain that tradition. As the House was a draw on residents throughout Albuquerque 90 years ago; it continues to be today. The Whittlesey House was a hub for social and cultural interaction 90 years ago; it remains that today. We members of the Albuquerque Press Club oftentimes refer to the TV show “Cheers” when describing our club. For the regulars, it is a place “where everyone knows your name”. Yes, we are “Cheers”, yet we are so much more. The Whittlesey House provides a space for community growth in partnership with Highland Park. Weddings are held in Highland Park with the reception at the Whittlesey House (recently we had a wedding in our front yard, again with the reception at the Whittlesey House). For those who attend these events the Whittlesey House continues to be a unique social and cultural venue. Adult birthday parties, anniversaries, weddings and receptions, wakes: all these (and more) regularly happen in our clubhouse. Our layout and policies allow a type and level of interaction not found in other venues around town. Special events are encouraged to bring their own food or provide catered foods. The Whittlesey House continues to be a venue for regular gatherings. A Toastmasters group meets in our boardroom bi-weekly. A motor-scooter group meets in the boardroom and poolroom weekly. A spelunker group meets monthly in the clubhouse. We’ve had a Volkswagen group meeting a dart club, neighborhood association meetings, and other regular meetings held in our clubhouse. We continue to welcome to these types of events into our clubhouse. The Whittlesey House continues to bring art and community together. Mary-Lou talked of the artists on the front porch. Come to our clubhouse on warm nights in the spring; summer; fall; you will find groups of people sitting at the tables on our front porch interacting and a rotation of art hanging in our shared spaces. Music was and continues to be a significant attraction at the park, the Whittlesey House in particular. We host a Ukulele Club meeting in our front room on alternating Thursdays; on alternating Tuesdays we host a Big Band Rehearsal and a Rockabilly practice session in our front room. We also have DJ events in our front room. The variety of musical events come and go as peoples’ wants and needs change. We’ve had “garage bands” of professional adults who just want a place to play their music for themselves and their friends. We’ve hosted open-mic nights for musicians who wish to participate in an evolving musical scene. We’ve hosted aspiring music groups who want a place to practice and play for their friends, while hoping to use our venue as an entryway into larger venues. Sometimes it’s just a pianist who plays the piano, or a small group of friends playing their guitars. In the past, we’ve held music events on our patio, or on the front porch playing into our front yard and Highland Park. These are always popular and well attended. Table games continue to live in the park at the Whittlesey House. Visitors to our clubhouse find groups playing rummicube, scrabble, and other board and table games. Not so visible are the twice weekly Bridge games in the card room. The Whittlesey House is the location of annual fund-raising events
