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Don Wesely (Lincoln, Nebraska),David Armstrong
<br />(Louisville, at microphone), C. Jack Ellis (&lacon,
<br />Georgia), Kerry Donley (Alexandria, Virginia).
<br />
<br />This is especially true of high tech, re-
<br />and development industries, and cor-
<br />porate headquarters. Communities with ex-
<br />cellent park systems have a distinct advantage
<br />when it comes to luring these companies,
<br />Crompton says.
<br /> Crompton points out that current studies
<br />show that real estate values and property taxes
<br />are enhanced by the presence ora park--just
<br />as they were in Olmsted's time. However,
<br />there is a catch. When recreational facilities in
<br />parks create a nuisance for the surrounding
<br />
<br />properties, they have a negative effect on prop-
<br />erty values. Thus, in the rush to build rev-
<br />enue-enhancing facilities, communities may
<br />be losing property tax revenue and all the
<br />collateral benefits of land value.
<br /> The typical city parks and recreation staffis
<br />out of necessity focused on day-to-day opera-
<br />tions and service provision. Moreover, in many
<br />communities the parks department is out of
<br />synch with the planning department. The
<br />two agencies often have a fundamentally dif-
<br />ferent philosophy and mission.
<br /> What's needed is enlightened leadership,
<br />says the City Parks Forum's Mary Eysenbach.
<br />"You need to have civic leaders with the kind of
<br />vision that can bring everyone together." And
<br />who fdls that role best? "Mayors," says Eysenbach.
<br />"They have the ability to take the broad yiew
<br />and the power to act on behalf of their con-
<br />stituents. The mayor is responsible for the
<br />overall health of the city."
<br /> Twice a year, the City Parks Forum brings
<br />together a group of mayors, their park advis-
<br />ers, and community leaders for a symposium
<br />on issues related to park development and
<br />stewardship.
<br /> The symposium is a unique opportunity
<br />for the mayors to focus exclusively on parks
<br />for two whole days. During that time, recog-
<br />nized parks experts provide insights into best
<br />park practices and point out the interconnec-
<br />tions between parks and the economic, envi-
<br />ronmental, social, and cultural health of cit-
<br />ies. Each mayor presents a case study ora local
<br />park and the forum participants suggest pos-
<br />sible solutions.
<br />
<br />Michael Barrette is a consultant and freelance writer
<br />in Chicago.
<br />
<br />and two views oflyou,gst'ers taking part in a daily arts and crafts summer program
<br />at Walter Burks Park/n Clevela~td.
<br />
<br />Contacts. For more informa-
<br />tion on Atlanta's Centennial
<br />Olympic Park, call 404-223-
<br />4412; e-mail, info@centennial
<br />park. com; on the web at
<br />www.gwcc.com. The Louisville
<br />Olmsted Parks Conservancy is
<br />at 502-456-8125. Reach
<br />Cleveland's P arkWorks at 216-
<br />696-2122; amzparkworks
<br />@aol.com.
<br />Garvin on parks. "Some things
<br />have not changed since
<br />Olmsted's time," says Alexander
<br />Garvin, author ora recent APA
<br />Planning Advisory Service re-
<br />port, Parks, Recreation, and
<br />Open Space: A Twenty-first Cen-
<br />tury Agenda. "People, even to-
<br />day, want to get away from the
<br />noise and confusion of daily
<br />life and want to do so on their
<br />o~vn. It is not enough for a
<br />parks department to offer struc-
<br />tured recreational activities.
<br />People need to have a place at
<br />their disposal where they can
<br />go to stroll or lie in the grass or
<br />bicycle whenever the mood
<br />strikes them and not just when
<br />it is a scheduled activity."
<br /> City Parks Forum. APA's
<br />City Parks Forum symposia
<br />have been held in Louisville,
<br />Minneapolis, New Orleans, and
<br />Pittsburgh. Participating cities
<br />include Kansas City, Kansas;
<br />Allentown, Pennsylvania; To-
<br />ledo, Ohio; Madison, Wiscon-
<br />sin; Knoxville, Tennessee;
<br />Rochester, New York; Fort
<br />Worth, Texas; Alexandria, Vir-
<br />ginia; Macon, Georgia; Reno,
<br />Nevada; Lincoln, Nebraska; and
<br />Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The
<br />next symposium is scheduled
<br />for this fall in Chicago. For
<br />more information, call the fo-
<br />rum at 312-786-6395; e-mail:
<br />meysenbach@planning.o rg;
<br />www.cityparksforum.org.
<br /> Ann Zoller, John Crompton,
<br />Lee Springgate, and Susan
<br />Rademacher are all faculty mem-
<br />bers of the City Parks Forum.
<br />
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