Bob Sharkey retiring from park district

The Feather River Recreation and Park District board of directors announced General Manager Bob Sharkey's resignation after a closed session meeting Wednesday.

[Dick]

Bob Sharkey has done more for FRRPD and the community than any other director in it's history. We all owe him a debt of gratitude and thanks for his untiring efforts. Although there has been some controveries he always did what he saw as the right thing for the citizens of the Oroville area.

Enjoy your retirement, Bob.

[Dirk]

During Bob Sharkey's tenure, lots of things got built, but almost nothing was maintained. His legacy will be how much work will have to be done to get the district's existing fields and parks back to where they should be.

[Bill Caylor]

... And what will it take to get the district's finances back in line...

[park enjoyer]

I have to say I go walking down at river bend almost daily and the times I have seen Bob Sharkey he was always friendly and I could see in his eyes his dreams for the park It is a bummer to see him leave --finally someone is willing to help out the town by improving the parks and bring families together and the city members have pushed him out

[Dirk]

Enjoyer, Have you really looked. He hasn't really improved anything. He has built and built, but has no maintenance plan for anything. Take a look at the little league fields and at Playtown in general. Look at the condition of the municipal auditorium. Almost all the properties maintained by the district have fallen into disrepair. Riverbend is headed that way too.

[The Real Question]

I've heard from several sources that the new park is or has been making the transition from what Bedrock park used to be known for. I hear the the rainbow coalition comes out of the woodwork when the gates close at night.

Quite the party when the sun goes down...

[Fan Club]

Hmmmm,

I wonder where all the Boob Sharkey and SOB fans are? After such a long and illustrious career, I expected more out of this community. It's such a pitty really!

[Bill Caylor]

I think the community is probably ready to move on and find a real manager who is not so selfish as to waste money (mostly borrowed) to build his own park system (and then not maintain them). Just try to justify all the freakin'$$ spent on the skate/bike park. He spent district and loaned money to make him look good. It's fun to spend other people's money, ain't it Boob? They should have spent half that amount and still had a nice skate park. The next poor manager is going to be left with a financial nightmare. I hope residents remember who put us here in the first place...

[Oroville Mom]

Bill Caylor wrote:

I think the community is probably ready to move on and find a real manager who is not so selfish as to waste money (mostly borrowed) to build his own park system (and then not maintain them). Just try to justify all the freakin'$$ spent on the skate/bike park. He spent district and loaned money to make him look good. It's fun to spend other people's money, ain't it Boob? They should have spent half that amount and still had a nice skate park. The next poor manager is going to be left with a financial nightmare. I hope residents remember who put us here in the first place...

I believe you are right on --- the money! In fact, others have speculated that those loans will come due within weeks of his leaving the district, so he will not have to manage or deal with it. Like you said, the next manager will be burdened with crippling debt....instead of developing programs that generate revenue. What a disappointment for Oroville families.

[William Sharkey]

Dick wrote:

Bob Sharkey has done more for FRRPD and the community than any other director in it's history. We all owe him a debt of gratitude and thanks for his untiring efforts. Although there has been some controveries he always did what he saw as the right thing for the citizens of the Oroville area.
Enjoy your retirement, Bob.

I concur, my brother has exceeded "all" expectations" of this rural communities park system for thirty years, and devotedly so! Why he would short change his family, and health for so many years for this lot, is beyond me!? "So be it" and I doubt if you will find a "Better Professional"! wjs

"The urge toward simplification and order keeps us going and inspires us in the midst of chaos, chaos is the beginning; simplicity is the end. M.C. Escher My bother has provided this to you, and your families! wjs

[William Sharkey]

park enjoyer wrote:

I have to say I go walking down at river bend almost daily and the times I have seen Bob Sharkey he was always friendly and I could see in his eyes his dreams for the park It is a bummer to see him leave --finally someone is willing to help out the town by improving the parks and bring families together and the city members have pushed him out

Boy Howdy! wjs

[Hopefully]

Please pray for the District and the employees who work there. I hope they can find the right candidate for a new General Manager. One, who like Bob Sharkey, has a genuine regard for the community in which he lives. They need a manager who does not currently work for the District and one who is fiscally responsible.

[Just Look]

Maybe just a thank you is in order. All districts and goverments are having some type of problems. But what can they say they have done with they monies? He and the board have made great improves to the community. So lets wait and see where to chips fell and enjoy all of the parks we now have. Maybe the parks would have more money if the city would have set things the way they should.

[what]

Dirk wrote:

During Bob Sharkey's tenure, lots of things got built, but almost nothing was maintained. His legacy will be how much work will have to be done to get the district's existing fields and parks back to where they should be.

Sounds like jealosy to me. Your statements can't be backed up, as the parks are in good condition. Riverbend is packed all the time ans especially on week-ends. What about all the grants bob got to build the park, including a grant for the ]skate park. His legacy will be a vuisionary who built parks, when people who are green with envy are forgotten.

[Dirk]

I assure you, I have no jealousy issues. Look at the little league fields. The grass in the outfields might get mowed once a season. There is an appalling lack of dirt on the infields to the point where some are more rocks than dirt. Any maintenance to the fields is done by little league and the highs school. Even though they pay for the use of the fields, a fee which is supposed to include maintenance.

And yes, lets look at Riverbend, each time we have taken people to see the "jewel" of the park system, they all ask "when will it be done"? There are still many bare areas, there are areas where garbage tends to pile up and nothing is done. It isn't about Mr. Sharkey's vision. It's about his follow-through.

[time for change]

sharkey for city administrator

[no hope]

Oh No!
He was one of the corrupt council members

[what]

Dirk wrote:

I assure you, I have no jealousy issues. Look at the little league fields. The grass in the outfields might get mowed once a season. There is an appalling lack of dirt on the infields to the point where some are more rocks than dirt. Any maintenance to the fields is done by little league and the highs school. Even though they pay for the use of the fields, a fee which is supposed to include maintenance.
And yes, lets look at Riverbend, each time we have taken people to see the "jewel" of the park system, they all ask "when will it be done"? There are still many bare areas, there are areas where garbage tends to pile up and nothing is done. It isn't about Mr. Sharkey's vision. It's about his follow-through.

And Riverbnd Park is an eyesore, you say, but that's not driven by jealosy. Right. I wonder how many communities would love to have that eyesore, and the soccer fields that are going in. I guess you loved all these rockpiles and weeds that were there for years. You could go sit in the rock piles off Montgomery street behind the city's proposed Gateway project that hasn't gone anywhere and contemplate how Sharkey has ruined Oroville with Riverbend Park.

[anex]

People, look at the reserves on the balance sheet.$10.000 last I looked. Pathetic. Sure, there were grants to cover a lot of the development, but $800,000 allocated for maintenance at Riverbend was approved by the Board to be used for added development. There is no money for a rainy day.
Lots of luck and best wishes for the new guy.

[Ramizez]

what wrote:

<quoted text>
Sounds like jealosy to me. Your statements can't be backed up, as the parks are in good condition. Riverbend is packed all the time ans especially on week-ends. What about all the grants bob got to build the park, including a grant for the ]skate park. His legacy will be a vuisionary who built parks, when people who are green with envy are forgotten.

The City of Oroville provided the grant for Riverbend Park and not the district. Howcome the City doesnt get any credit for that?