WE take a lot of things for granted around these parts. Donner Park, for instance.

The downtown green space hasn’t been totally overlooked through the years, but anything that’s been around since 1916 and has been used by millions of people does tend to become a comfortable part of the community fabric.

There have been times when its relevance has been recognized, like 1997 when the Columbus Parks and Recreation Department announced plans for a million-dollar maintenance facility on park property.

The idea was presented at a hearing and was promptly shot down by public reaction.

There were a number of reasons for the opposition, but the big one was that the proposed facility would dramatically change what had become an oasis in the middle of town.

The response served as a wake-up call about community attitudes and the park that William Donner turned over to the city almost a century ago.

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