Lions Park Playground Dedication
This year marked the start of my second term on Raleigh’s Parks, Recreation, and Greenways Advisory Board (a.k.a. PRGAB). Service on this board has led to an amazing set of friendships and a greater understanding for all our Parks department does.
It has been challenging but rewarding work. The board meets every month, and each member is also expected to serve on one or more committees. My committee of choice is to act as liason to Mordecai Historic Park, which is a mile away from our home.
I’ve gone to many ribbon cuttings as new parks open. I’ve also participated in the Lions Park Playground Community Build Day, where a brand new playground set was added to our neighborhood park through the volunteer labor of many (including my whole family). It’s great fun to participate in such happy occasions.
Some of the more controversial issues tackled include the master plan for Horseshoe Farm Park, the planned route for Honeycutt Creek Greenway, and (lately) the Smoking in Parks issue. These were issues where not everyone was happy with the outcome, and working through them gave me a new respect for those who make these kinds of tough decisions on a regular basis. It’s very difficult making a decision that might be right for most folks but not for everyone.
In October of 2010 I was elected as the Parks board vice-chair ad have been enjoying the challenge. Officers serve one-year terms and my fellow boardmembers encouraged me to run. Being a vice-chair means playing a cooperative role in planning agendas, and running the meetings when the chair is absent.
No sooner had I been elected to vice-chair that I got tapped to chair my very first meeting. The topic was Smoking in Parks, which as has been seen is quite controversial. Most of the recent media inquiries came as a result of me chairing that one deciding meeting on Smoking in Parks. I got the calls even though I did not serve on the Smoking Committee itself. That’s part of an officer’s job, though, as it is for the other boardmember’s, too. Part of our responsibility is to be an advocate for city parks, and that means speaking to the public (media and ordinary citizens). I wasn’t completely comfortable speaking on this issue but that comes with the territory.
So what’s next for Parks? Unless the economy takes off soon I’m afraid this won’t be a good year for Parks. We boardmembers will probably hear from the public about the effects potential budget cuts will have on Parks services: this in spite of the board having no say in budget matters. Hopefully Parks won’t be too badly affected and Raleigh’s citizens can continue to enjoy the high quality of programs and services the city offers.
I look forward to continuing to serve Raleigh’s parks users!