Jewell Proposes Slicing Park Budget
Just found out this morning that Councilman Marty Jewell isn’t a big fan of the parks as evidenced by his proposal to cut $400,000 from general Park maintenance (16%) and $100,000 from James River Park maintenance (26%).
These cuts would result in a reduction in cleaning of facilities and related supplies, less safety inspection, decreased offerings in recreation programs for both youth and adult leagues , either for youth or adult leagues or both (this will also impact revenues, since the adult teams pay for the use of the fields).
James River Park will be hit especially hard, since a larger percentage of it’s budget is taking a hit yet the park is receiving more and more visitors. The James River Park has more than 500,000 visitors a year and host events like Dominion RiverRock Festival that is going on the weekend. Without that money you are likely to see less work on the trails, at Pony Pasture, Belle Island and many other spots along the river.
The next City Council work session is scheduled for 1 pm Friday. If you wanted to express how you feel about these particular cuts it would be advisable to contact your city representatives today or early tomorrow.
Would Byrd Park be affected by those cuts? (Dogwood Dell, the Carillon, etc)
Oh no he didn’t! What you’ll see is a lot less time to collect trash (big in summer), repair broken stuff (happens most in summer), parking lots being run smoothly (AKA more volunteers pulled in) and anything being done in a timely manner. That’s just JRPS, but to attack Richmond’s best-run FREE amenities that make the city worth living in is just petty. The parks are already run on a shoestring budget. I volunteer in the parks often and people donating their time to pitch in shouldn’t become the ONLY way that maintenance work gets done.
Park maintenance is minimal as it is. Cutting funding would make it non-existent.
What is the rationale for making the cuts?
Yes, this sucks. Phil, it’s lucky that we already have you and others donating time to help keep things in shape. Still, maybe volunteers SHOULD be the way most maintenance work gets done. Instead of paying for crews, why not (pay for a person or two to?) organize and promote an all-volunteer force, supplemented with community service from lawbreakers? I understand this may not be practical for certain repairs, but I still feel that we could increase the time commitment from members of the community and decrease the required budget. We talk like a group of concerned and invested citizens, but we should probably move our hands off the keyboard and into some work gloves.
@Jason I assume that yes they would be affected.
While the proposed cuts would have tremendous negative effects to our park system, we need to be prepared. The volunteer comment is an excellent one. I’d like to bring your attention to Enrichmond Foundation, a local foundation that advocates for people, parks and public spaces. This is the umbrella organization for most of the Friends groups. Groups such as Friends of Dogwood Dell, Friends of Bryan Park, etc. Every year thousands of volunteer hours are donated to help pick up trash and clean up parks. Check the website out at http://www.enrichmond.org to see if your park has a volunteer group.
How about cutting Center Stage instead?
Remember, Jewell voted for Center Stage’s secret financial deal despite citizen protest.
http://www.oregonhill.net/2007/09/20/5th-district-councilperson-marty-jewell-speaking/
http://saverichmond.com/
http://www.vagreenparty.org/richblog/?p=18
[...] Hills and Heights has the story: Just found out this morning that Councilman Marty Jewell isn’t a big fan of the parks as evidenced by his proposal to cut $400,000 from general Park maintenance (16%) and $100,000 from James River Park maintenance (26%). These cuts would result in a reduction in cleaning of facilities and related supplies, less safety inspection, decreased offerings in recreation programs for both youth and adult leagues , either for youth or adult leagues or both (this will also impact revenues, since the adult teams pay for the use of the fields). [...]
Scott makes a good point. I don’t go to Center Stage productions often. I do attend, and drive by, a park much more often than the Center Stage boondoogle.
btw – Message to councilwoman Graziano is sent.
His email address is: Marty.Jewell@Richmondgov.com Sure he would appeciate some honest feedback and maybe he can answer why he would slice funding from an already low funded service.
I sent my complaint e-mail.
The city really isn’t even in a fiscal pinch. What is he thinking?
It is interesting to see what a difference two years can make in a persons position:
http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/2009/may/12/coun12_20090511-222221-ar-43668/
Councilman E. Martin Jewell said he’s frustrated that the council didn’t do more to support parks and recreation. Jones’ proposed budget calls for eliminating 29 vacant full-time positions, and Jewell said most are assigned to recreation programs.
“At a time when we’re approaching summer, we’re cutting . . . positions. Give me a break,” he said.
[...] to Hills & Heights for posting this story this morning. For more, see the comments posted on that article. [...]
Nice find James.
Emails to Kathy G. and Mr. Jewell have been sent- please take a few minutes to do the same- the parks are a real treasure that need to be cared for.
I just emailed City Council and Mayor Jones. Our heavily used parks need more maintenance, not less. Thanks for this find.
One council member has already emailed me back saying they will not support this proposal!
Marty just likes that we are talking about HIM!
[...] Jewell Proposes Slicing Park Budget ‹ Hills and Heights. Posted in 5th Jewell, M., CITY COUNCIL, Parks | Tags: [...]
#17,
Must be nice. I e-mailed my council person (Newbille) yesterday when I read this. Of course the e-mail was read but did anyone other to even than me for my input? No! Then again I never seem to get a responce from her. Of course I’m not bkac either so that’s probably what it is…
They have to be completely ignorant to miss the resultant chain of events that would occur: Cut funding > parks become run down > tourism (including from Chesterfield/Henrico/etc.) into the city for these parks suffers > local business suffers. Look at the interviews and comments following the Boom Boom Burgers closing story. Most people mention that they don’t want to venture into the bottom because it is so run down. This isn’t rocket science.
Update: Just got a reply back that coucnil has voted not to allow the budget cuts.
Good news. Thanks Phil!
[...] and care of James River Park System and the success of the Patrick Henry School.The incumbent suggested cutting $400,000 last spring from the park system budget.And by way of example, if you have a representative who is [...]
[...] incumbent suggested cutting $400,000 last spring from the park system [...]