Actually, public funds cover only a small part of the cost of city parks
nowadays. While Fairmount Park managed to secure some government money
before the recession hit, and then topped off with federal stimulus
dollars, few of the new parks would be seeing the light of day without
heavy underwriting from philanthropic foundations, nonprofits, and
private institutions. For better or worse, outside interests have become
the lead player in planning and maintaining an entire generation of what
we still like to call /public/ parks.
http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/20110527_Changing_Skyline__A_bumper_crop_of_new_parks_sprouting_in_Philadelphia.html
I think those people who understand disaster capitalism and
privatization, do not look upon this privatization as fondly as Ms.
Saffron.
How long will the Penn Park remain open to the public? Will it remain
"public" after Fairmount park is sold?
I hope people see that "parks" will now be commercial spaces and rental
venues. And when the public resources are used up by these
"partnerships," who will take care of the parks in the cities
neighborhoods where upscale coffee shops will not thrive?
