Peter,
Please don't forget about those of us who don't live on the Island. We too
might have some questions about this potential arrangement.
I am, indeed, interested in preserving public open space in our urban core. I
feel it is vital to the success of not only our city but our entire region and
state as we continue to grow. Cities and regions that prosper have ample
public open space and public green space to allow urban residents opportunities
to stay in touch with the land upon which they depend. This results in
healthier, happier, more productive, and less violent citizens. To take a
piece of this public resource and give quasi-exclusive use to a private
institution demands a thourough questioning.
I am, indeed, questioning the appropriateness of the Park Board dealing in this
way with a private educational institution. This amounts to a public handout
to a private educational institution. I feel our public educational
institutions should be the ones receiving more public handouts. The deal with
the residents on the Island differs in many ways from a deal with De La
Salle--it involved more than the use of public land at taxpayers expense.
If De La Salle were offering to compensate the Park Board at fair market value
for expanded use of the park land, I'd be objecting less. That said, it still
may be a poor choice for the overall park system. And if it is an overall bad
choice for the park system of this city, I think De La Salle as a resident
should accept and respect that and search for alternatives to meet their needs.
We need to do the old cost/benefit analysis and do it honestly. I think the
Public Open park space wins in this case.
These aren't easy questions, but looking at this from outside of De La Salle
and off the Island these are questions that are pretty clear.
Matty Lang
Taxpayer, Central
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