In less than a week, I might have to say we instead of they. So in what might be a last shot as an outsider, let me try to pin down another source of potential controversy. The Park Board is launching a $20,000 ad campaign-promoting the Park Board and has produced a 20 minute DVD for distribution and airing on public access television.
Mpls. Parks- your best investment I have seen it twice. I really don't like it. I do think we should promote our Park system, but this piece comes off as political propaganda for commercialization of our parks and the building of the Nieman sports complex. The emphasis is on entertainment as the end goal in a way that to me makes our park system seem similar to the Mall of America. It is not that promotion of these things should not occur, but it is shocking to me that the real value of our Parks and an expression of the true vision and mission is nowhere to be found in this poorly thought out and expensive commercial. The reason this Park system is great is that it is a system related to linking the preservation of natural features and establishing free activities in local parks within six blocks of every home. The history and geography really do matter, passive recreation and the preservation of greenspace are steam rolled over by the promotion of the commercialization of our Parks in this ad. The contributions of Horace Cleveland and Theodore Wirth are nowhere to be found, which is more than a historical oversight, it is an indication that the legacy of what we have now is not understood. The Parks are many things to many people but the DVD vision is not mine. For me the images would be: the May Day celebration, the Mississippi River Gorge and the Winchell trail, 4 pitch base ball with half of the kids looking at ants, swimming in Lake Nokomis (from the kid beach where you don't have to pay for parking), touring the Wirth House and walking in the Eloise Butler wildlife preserve or launching my boat from the North Mississippi Park boat launch or Halloween Parades. The thing that bothers me is the message. The message should be consistent with the core values and mission of the Park Board. We have a great Park system and I hope the DVD can be modified to include a truer and more complete vision. Thanks, Scott Vreeland Seward Park Board candidate and movie critic Todd Melby should do the voice over and the kids at Powderhorn should do the music REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact 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 Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[email protected] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
