The First-ever political debate in Boston on parks!
On October 17, 2005 about 200 people crowded into the Franklin Park Golf Clubhouse to hear at-large City Council candidates tell how they would increase resources for our city greenspaces, make our parks feel safe for everyone, and bring more youth and arts programs into our parks. More than 60 organizations, representing park, community, arts, youth, public safety and community garden organizations, signed on as co-sponsors to send the message that parks matter! You can download the sponsorship list and contact information for this broad, diverse park constituency.
If you'd like to borrow a video or dvd of the debate, contact us mail@franklinparkcoalition.org We tried to put it on the website, so you could click and view, but it was too large.
A fact sheet on parks was given out at the debate and there was great media coverage - the Boston Globe, the Boston Phoenix, and many neighborhood papers worte about the event.
All 4 at-large City Councilors support:
- Increasing the budget for parks to 1% of the city budget (currently it is just .85%).
- The Community Preservation Act - a slight raise in property taxes that would mean money for open space, affordable housing, and historic preservation.
- A voluntary check off on homeowners' property tax bill that would go to parks.
At any time during the year you can let city councilors know you want them to stay focused on parks. Write a letter to them about the issue you care about most: more arts in parks, youth programs, tree maintenance, public safety, or community gardens. Click here for a contact list with email addresses.
Highlights from the 2005 debate:
Felix Arroyo
-More arborists - doing tree care, maintenance and planting.
-Reduced pesticide use in city parks.
-A stronger city partnership to support park festivals while ensuring they maintain their own cultural identify.
-Restore cuts made to Municipal Police who patrol parks
-Double the number of park ranges to reach 25 with Homeland Security funds.
-Generate money for parks by charging user fees for special groups.
-Have the city adopt the large cultural festivals in Franklin Park (Puerto Rican, Dominican, Caribbean) for funding them.
-Reclaim state parkland within Boston for city oversight.
-Do objective assessments of Parks Department staff.
-Park safety through increased use of parks.
-A stronger city partnership to support park festivals while ensuring they maintain their own cultural identify.