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Report of the CFLCA Parks Goals Committee
Submitted February 10, 2009
Introduction
The committee was tasked with the following:
1) Find a method to continue to increase green space.
2) Find an equitable approach to spread parks throughout the city and increase green space in neighborhoods that are under-served.
3) Provide more Park Rangers and allow for coordination of police and Park Rangers.
The term “green space” can mean different things to different people. We have decided to define “green space” as a community park which could consist of open space, a bike path, a dog park, a community garden, a community square, a golf course or any combination thereof.
Our focus has been on creating smaller scale community parks with minimal “programed space” and preserving existing endangered recreation areas that are not “parks” per se such as golf courses, but could add substantially to the open space of the City if kept from development.
The need for green, open space in an urban environment is unquestioned. Not only does it provide areas for recreation and/or relaxation but can also create a sense of place and provide a gathering place for the neighborhood. In addition parks increase property values in the surrounding area which translates into increased tax revenues for the City. We would hope that the City would view acquiring more park land as an investment in our future that will pay dividends both in the well being of its citizens and the positive impact on the City’s budget.
Before increasing the amount of “green space” we first must preserve what we already have. To that end the committee urges the City to adopt a “no net loss” principle. If park land is taken away for another use it must be replaced elsewhere in the vicinity by the addition of at least an equal parcel.
Creating More “Green”
Opportunities exist throughout the City to reuse vacant land to create more green open space for the communities where these parcels are now often the source of blight, crime and illegal uses. Many of these lots are city-owned or could be purchased from private owners. For some good advice on how to get a park in your neighborhood please refer to Appendix “A”.
Where possible, the concept of a community or “Town Square” should be explored. Using the example of Savannah, GA these town squares could create a powerful sense of place and community pride. The town squares could be used for public celebrations, meetings or gatherings as well as for recreation, relaxation and the dissemination of information through the use of message boards.
Mindful of the need to conserve natural resources and scarce revenues we recommend the use of design concepts that utilize xeroscape principles, i.e. low maintenance, drought resistant plant and shrub species, pathways and a minimum of grassy areas.
Spreading the Wealth
The committee has studied the Fort Lauderdale Parks and Recreation Long Range Strategic Plan. Among the Plan’s recommendations we particularly endorse the standard of a minimum of one (1) acre of green space/parks per neighborhood association. It may be difficult in some neighborhoods to assemble a single parcel totaling one acre so contiguity would not be required. Priority should be given to those areas of the city that are currently under-served.
Funding or “Show Me the Money”
In the past the City has floated bond issues to pay for park land acquisition and construction. We recommend a new bond issue to pay for new parks. (See Appendix “C”)
Additional operating funds could be derived from vendor rentals of equipment such as bicycles, roller blades, lounge chairs etc. Our larger parks such as Holiday Park may be good candidates for the creation of a Foundation or Trust, such as New York’s Central Park, which would provide an endowment to supplement city funding. If revenues can be found from sources such as these and others more general funds would be freed up to provide funding for the smaller neighborhood parks and town squares.
The Lone Rangers
The committee had the benefit of input from Earnest Jones, Park Ranger Supervisor. Currently there are for all City parks, in total, only 2-4 rangers working from 6:30am to 3:00pm and 4-6 rangers from 3:00pm to11:30pm. Their duties include public relations, monitoring and reporting on hazardous conditions, assisting in crowd control and rules enforcement, etc. The idea is to do more with less. Mr. Jones recommended the creation of 1) a Jr. Park Ranger Program and 2) the institution of a Park Watch Program in partnership with local neighborhood associations. The Jr. Ranger program would focus on exposing High School students, grades 11 and 12, to the profession of park safety and security. Students would earn community service points for participating in the program. Community points could be credited to the Associations who become involved in the Parks Watch Program. Both programs could be funded with corporate sponsorships. A breakdown of some of the costs involved can be found in Appendix “B”.
Summary
! Focus should be on preserving existing parks and green space and creating community parks in areas that are currently under-served.
! City should adopt a “no net loss” principle.
! City should consider parks and green open spaces an investment paying dividends in economic terms through increased property values and a better quality of life for its citizens.
! Town Squares should be created where possible.
! To save revenue and natural resources, Xeroscape principles should be adopted for new parks/green spaces and phased in in existing parks where possible.
! The City should adopt the standard of at least one (1) acre of park/green space per neighborhood association.
! A bond issue should be floated to finance land acquisition and capital improvements.
! For larger Parks the City should explore the establishment of a Trust or Foundation.
! A Junior Park Ranger Program should be established with funding to come from corporate or private sponsorships.
! A Parks Watch Program should be established with participation from Neighborhood Associations.
This report was prepared by Committee Chair Doug Sterner with the participation of:
Abel Conejo, Lake Ridge
Dennis Ulmer, Lauderdale Manors
Mark Boyd, Progresso Village
Marilyn Markus, Bermuda Riviera
Betty Hays, River Run
Debra Van Valkenburgh, Chula Vista Isles
APPENDIX “A”
Some advice on how to get a park in your neighborhood
From the Chula Vista Iles Homeowner’s Association/Ann Herman Park
1. Understand the City’s Vision and commitment to goals of excellence. Create the Vision for your neighborhood. Know what kind of park you want as well as what kind of park you need for your neighborhood demographics.
2. Get support from your HOA Board. Have the Board vote on it.
3. Present your idea for a park to the neighbors at a HOA meeting.
4. Advertise a general HOA meeting and vote on it.
5. Speak to your City and County Commissioner in person and let them know that your neighborhood would like a park.
6. Identify a site for a park.
7. Establish a willing seller or donor.
8. Write separate letters to your County and City Commissioners (with cc to each Commissioner as well as the HOA President) and let them know that you have:
- the full support of your neighborhood
- have held a HOA meeting and voted on it
- found a site
- have a donor or willing seller ($ vs. legacy/prestige)
9. Invite your City and County Commissioners to take a drive by to look at the proposed site. Be there. Share your vision. Ask for assistance through grants and discretionary funds in person.
10. Stay on task and stay positive in all of your written correspondence and verbal interactions regarding your Park. Recognize and acknowledge every single person who assists you along the way. It takes time, effort and one pointed determination. Put your other projects on simmer.
11. Your park project will take on a life of its own. City staffing assigned to your project changes, funding changes, there are deadlines, grant cycles and windows and doors of opportunities, other neighborhoods want a park, too. You have to meet stringent criteria.
12. Staff your charette with knowledgeable people and make sure the people who live along the boundaries of the park have input at this level.
13. Use your Newsletter to keep everyone up to date with information about the park. The Newsletter is great documentation.
14. Start a time line to keep track of the process and to provide a visual at HOA meetings.
15. See yourself as already there in your new park.
APPENDIX “B”
Estimated Costs for Park Watch and Jr. Ranger Programs
Park Watch: T-shirts and caps - $200.00
Cell phones (2) - $100.00
Jr. Rangers: T-shirts and caps - $200.00
Cell phones (2) - $100.00
Total.........................................$600.00
APPENDIX “C”
From: Terry Rynard
Sent: Tuesday, March 25, 2008 4:17 PM
To: Hays, Elizabeth
Cc: Phil Thornburg; Cassandra Brown; Julie Richards
Subject: RE: Park Land Questions
Dr. Hays,
Per your request the total number of park acres on January 1, 2007 was 783. The total on March 20, 2008 was 784.07 which included the addition of Coral Ridge Park and South Middle River Terrace Park. There are currently proposed additions including River Oaks and Hortt Park. There have been no losses of park land in this time period.
Additionally, Broward County bonds were also used to fund recent land purchases prior to 2007. Since 2002, the City of Fort Lauderdale has acquired 45.40 acres through acquisition. These acquisitions have included the following sites: Cypress Creek Preserve, Mills Pond Addition, Bill Keith Preserve, Harbordale Park, North Fork, Sailboat Bend, Coontie Hatchee Landing, Ann Herman, Flagler Heights, and the Hardy Park Addition.
One of the goals of the Land Preservation Bond Program is to ensure the preservation and protection of ecologically valuable lands, while expanding the recreational opportunities for the residents of Broward County. As such, any park lands acquired utilizing these funds must be maintained as a park in perpetuity.
If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me directly.
Terry Rynard
Assistant Director, Fort Lauderdale Parks and Recreation
954-828-5804
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