Boston Park Advocates Coalition
The Boston Park Advocates is an ad-hoc citywide parks coalition with representation from nearly every Boston neighborhood. Our goal is to bring attention and improvements to our urban parks. We are connected to both city-owned (Boston Parks Department) and state-owned (MA Department of Conservation & Recreation - DCR) greenspaces. Here's what we've done:
Spring 2008: Park advocates meet with Boston Police Superintendent Dan Linsky, head of Field Operations, and Lt. Bruce Lint from the MA State Police Field Operations to raise public safety concerns in parks, press for more patrols as prevention, and learn how police address crime in parks. More than 50 park advocates complete a public safety survey collecting information about criminal activity in the city's greenspaces. Please take a few minutes and do the survey - the more input, the better!
May 2007: Over 25 park advocates testified at the City Council hearing on the annual parks budget, urging more funds for trees, maintenance, and Park Rangers.
Fall 2006: More than 65 park-connected organizations signed on to a "Green Paper" for newly-elected Governor Deval Patrick. Read the Green Paper, a background piece on park issues, and the list of Green Paper endorsers.
Fall 2005: First-ever political debate on parks in Boston! At-large city council candidates gathered at the Franklin Park Golf Clubhouse before a packed audience of nearly 200 people. Park, community garden, budget, and other issues related to Boston's greenspace were debated.
Join us!
If you work with an organization or group that cares about parks - let us know if you'd like to join the BPAC. We hope arts, youth, recreation, health, public safety, neighborhood, and park organizations will participate to create a broad-based powerful advocacy network for city and state owned parks in Boston.
We'll meet just a few times a year and publicize advocacy opportunities through an email alert system. Stay updated on the BPAC through this web page.
Keep Parks in the Public Eye!
Let's wield our power, as youthworkers, arts advocates, park stewards, elders, public health promoters, and community activists, to increase resources for Boston's open spaces and ensure that they are enjoyed by all. Mayor Menino has suggested creative ways to increase the city's revenues through more equitable allocations from the state. Stay tuned to this page for details of how we can advocate for Boston's parks at City Hall and the State House.
Want to do something right now? Send a Letter to the Editor of your neighborhood paper about a park issue of concern. Elected officials read the local papers to know what their constituents care about!
Or write to your city councilor or state legislator about issues or problems in your park. Click here to find your state senator or representative. If your park is managed by the City of Boston's Department of Parks and Recreation, contact your city councilor, if yours is a DCR park (MA Department of Conservation & Recreation), contact your state legislators.