Frank Haskett
Position: Neighborhood #4 Rep
Family: Wife Marguerite (Maggie) Haskett.
About my family: I am a gardener and record collector with about 10000 records. My wife is a master gardener, Channel 6 volunteer and former guide and outfitter for elk hunting. We have a log home east of Meeker, CO that we built the hard way; taking down trees, making logs, and building! I pick up and deliver over-ripe farmers' market produce and donations of fruit grown in Walnut Hills to battered women's and other shelters. I an the WHCA chairman for beautification zoning and ordinance awareness. I previously served on a Walnut Hills park renovation co9mmittee and I have walked petitions to save the library and to prevent scheduled passenger airplanes from using Centennial Airport.
Present Occupation: Retired May '06,
Time in WH/previous location: I have lived in Walnut Hills for 24 years, previously living in Omaha, Kansas City, Chicago, Indianapolis, Evansville IN, and Cincinnati.
Why WH: Our house backs into the park. Once here, we found friendly neighbors and an active civic association. We now live in the middle of busy city, but we have mature trees and little noise - almost like living on the edge of town and close to many things. Light rail is a big bonus.
Changes that have happened in WH: In 1973 Acres Green was our only neighbor, and was no business district. There were five gas stations at I-25 and that was it. The park was under construction that early summer of 1973. Most homes on the southeast end of Walnut Hills had no yard, trees, fences, etc. The Arapahoe Drive-in sat where Fay Meyers motorcycle store is now located. First National Bank was the Arapahoe Bank & Trust and was housed in a mobile home during the construction of their current building. There were heavily used baseball diamonds on the southwest corner of Dry Creek and Holly. We played pickup volleyball in the park every weekend (the poles are still there, ready for the next game), and in the winter at Walnut Hills Elementary School. We had block parties and Christmas parties. During the blizzard of '82, since no one could go anywhere, we invited some neighbors over on Christmas night and had an impromptu party. Some of the teenagers did the same at the park shelter.
Concerns/hopes for WH: I would like to see young people with motorized unlicensed vehicles off the streets and out of the park. They are underage, have had no driver training, and are a danger to themselves and others. Go-peds, go-carts, and small motorcycles have no place in a residential neighborhood or park. Well-meaning parents are placing the child and all of us in peril. I should know. As an insurance adjuster for 30 years, I cleaned up after the accidents. The parental lament was always the same: "I didn't think anyone would get hurt. I didn't mean for anyone to be killed." Please consider the consequences!