[MAIPC] FW: We Need a New Model for Parks

[Marc Imlay]

From: Mike Vandeman [mailto:mjvande at pacbell.net] 
Sent: Monday, June 06, 2016 3:30 PM
To: Recipient list suppressed:
Subject: We Need a New Model for Parks

 

To: The East Bay Regional Park District Board

I've been spending many 5-6-hour days cutting Italian thistle (if you've
ever had a close encounter with Italian thistle, you won't want to ever
repeat it!), poison hemlock, & French broom in Claremont Canyon Regional
Preserve ("Preserve"? It's not being preserved!). Exotic plants are taking
over our regional parks, and the fauna are very scarce. Many people have
thanked me, but so far no one has volunteered to help. The park staff are
cutting the grass around the edge of the park (to reduce the fire danger),
but not addressing the exotics that are spreading (and going to seed) in
every grassy area. The goats help, but leave all the large stems, which I
have had to cut myself.

It occurs to me that our model of a park is obsolete. Everyone comes to the
park, enjoys himself/herself, but, with very rare exceptions, doesn't lift a
finger to maintain the park. We expect the park staff to do all of that.
But, as you know, you don't have the staff to do that. This model just
doesn't work! You should advertise for volunteers (this kind of work is very
easy, just time-consuming), and expect all visitors to lend a a hand - just
as we do when we visit someone's home, or bus our own dishes in the
cafeteria.

The only alternative is to tax the community enough to pay for all the
services the parks require. (That wouldn't be popular, but the public should
presented all the options. Ruining the parks is not acceptable!) 

 


-- 

I am working on creating wildlife habitat that is off-limits to humans
("pure habitat").
Want to help? (I spent the previous 8 years fighting auto dependence and
road construction.)

Wildlife must be given top priority, because they can't protect themselves
from us.

Please don't put a cell phone next to any part of your body that you are
fond of!

http://mjvande.info <http://mjvande.info/>  



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