The Delta Queen is a magnificent part of history and in many ways I'm pleased she is in town. Having the boat where she is is the problem. The boat blocks the view of and from the prettiest park in our town.
The crew take many of the parking spots around the park leaving families to park across Frazier and schlep their kids, strollers and picnics to the park. You don't get fireworks from the river anymore since the wooden boat is a fire hazard where it sits. And, to top it all off, other than hotel/motel tax, does the city get any income from it?
Does the city provide garbage pickup and clean around the boat? If it had docked at the old Fehn's Restaurant site it, would have been fine but it is a nuisance where it is and needs to go. Another Littlefield mistake we need to correct ASAP.
Jeanne Harte
* * *
Jeanne Harte, Yours is a unanimous opinion shared for years by everyone who visits Coolidge Park. If not everyone, at least 99 percent.
It is hard to imagine so many feel the way you do and yet Chattanooga officials ignore every single person's feelings and insist on inflicting that tired old boat on all of us and allow it to marr and obscure what is likely the most beautiful and inspiring view of the Tennessee River in the city. Why?
You're correct in all you say. Thanks for saying it.
David Saluk
* * *
Surely you people can't be serious.
The Delta Queen is a world wide known attraction and one of the last of its kind. There is nothing structurally or aesthetically wrong with the condition of that ship. It's a beautiful example of the mode of travel from a bygone era. There is a group working, right now, to raise money to help require the Congressional exemption it takes for a wooden ship of that era to once again steam up and down the river ways. Sure, some mechanical thing would have to be fixed or reworked for it to move under its own power, but that is only a result of it being mothballed. Come talk to some of the crew and take a tour of the engine room and you'll see a clean, well kept area that is begging to be a working engine. You are obviously not someone that actually goes down to the boat or you would know about all of the beautiful hand crafted woodwork that covers it inside and out.
As for the view it blocks, you can't even see it from the park until you actually walk right down to it. I have even had to explain to those from here in Chattanooga as to exactly where it is. Even if it weren't sitting where it is, you can't see the Aquarium or Ross' Landing or even Bell South Park for the bridge being there. So which is being blocked, exactly? It blocks the view of the apartment complex on the other side of the river, that's about it. Apparently, you are big fans of those apartments? You know you can actually get on the Delta Queen and it's a short walk to the portside railing and you can see them just fine.
As far as the crew taking up parking....how many people do you think work there? It's not a water going vessel, there can't be as many as a dozen people there at any given time. As a frequent park and Delta Queen visitor, there is plenty of parking on either side of both bridges at any time of day.
David Saluk, are you a professional pollster? Have you scientific polling data that 99 percent of Chattanooga doesn't want the Delta Queen? They sure do seem awful busy down there for something to be "a unanimous opinion shared for years by everyone who visits Coolidge Park. If not everyone, at least 99 percent." I hardly think so.
George Merriman
* * *
I love the Delta Queen. She is a National Historic Landmark and nothing but a boon to our city. The Delta Queen is known the world over and she is the only boat to be inducted into the National Marine Hall of Fame while still in service. When she was built she was among the most luxuriously appointed and expensive steamwheelers ever commissioned. I have to wonder if the people who are complaining have ever been on her decks. Hand carved wood, fine wrought iron, stained glass.
The crew of the Delta Queen do not take up many of the parking spots in and around the park. Believe me when I tell you, they are carpooling and do not receive preferential parking either from working there or from the police and parking enforcement at the park. Furthermore, there are people who will plan a trip to this city with the express purpose of seeing her. These tourists will stay here, and eat here, and shop here – there is no telling how much the city is making off of the Delta Queen. There are websites and tour groups devoted to steamboats.
Regarding the unanimous survey, everyone knows that 87 percent of statistics are made up on the spot. Again, I have to wonder if the people complaining have been to where she sits. The Delta Queen does not block one’s view of the Aquarium or Ross’ Landing. I agree with George. I didn’t realize those apartments were of any historical importance. I see those apartments more as urban sprawl and as more of an eye sore than the Delta Queen.
Kellie L. Karaky