The Minneapolis Park System has received the top rating in the nation since 1928. The parks provide the public with a quality of life that is unmatched in other urban settings and require an independent board to provide effective stewardship. Across the country our independent elected board is considered the ideal form of governance for protection of the people's parks.
The much older park commission in New York City envies Minneapolis' parks and the independent park board that governs them. To quote Alexander Garvin, the New York City Planning Commissioner and Yale professor who wrote "The American City What Works and What Doesn't" (McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. 1996), "The best-located, best-financed, best-designed, best-maintained public open space in America is the Minneapolis Park System." While all Minneapolitans enjoy the parks and parkways, most don't understand why the elected independent park board is the preferred form of governance for parks. Estimates of park properties in Minneapolis range from 16% to 20% of the city's land. It is a monumental task to maintain and manage this grand system of parks and parkways while adjusting it to the needs of the City's changing demographics. While other cities struggle to keep their parks away from the priorities of city business, Minneapolis Parks have an independent board to keep beauty, relaxation, recreation and good health equally available for all people. This is the Board's only concern. There have been tight budgets before. Even during the Great Depression, eliminating the independent park board was not a consideration. Especially during those difficult times, the independent board protected the parks, while the parks provided necessary relief for the public. All the while, the City's severe budget challenges remained separate. What if the independent board were eliminated and Minneapolis elected a short-sighted mayor, akin to our present governor, who feels that parks in Minneapolis are only a luxury? What might the priorities of such a mayor be? Public parks belong to the people. Today's Minneapolitans need a better understanding for the independent elected Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board that provides protection for the one-of-a-kind Minneapolis Park System. If Minneapolis eliminates the independent Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, the people's beloved legacy will become at risk. Joan Berthiaume and Ted Wirth co-founders of the Minneapolis Parks Legacy Society REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:mpls@mnforum.org Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
