Notes from a parks observer
The following letter to the Southwest Journal was submitted in response to a letter written by MPRB Commissioner Bob Fine which disparaged Park Watch, Park Reform and Jim Bernstein.
Notes from a parks observer
I am responding to the letter from Park Board Commissioner Bob Fine that appeared in a recent Southwest Journal. After attending almost all Park Board meetings for the past three-and-a-half years and reviewing a variety of Park Board documents,
I would like to point out that the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) is not as idyllic as Commissioner Fine would like us to believe. There are serious problems with the MPRB administrations lack of openness, transparency and citizen participation.
For instance, in April, the Park Board began construction on the $1.8 million Parade athletic field/stadium project, which the commissioners approved on Jan. 3, 2007. Superintendent Gurban has been unwilling to convene a Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) for this project. By failing to convene a CAC, the MPRB under Gurbans and Olsons leadership has deprived citizens of their legal rights to participate in the decision-making regarding this project.
Second, by failing to apply for a conditional-use permit prior to the construction at Parade, the MPRBs administration has violated the citys zoning code. The city issued a stop-work order on April 25, but the MPRBs unpermitted construction continued. Again, citizens rights to a hearing were being denied.
Third, the MPRB's administration under Superintendent Gurban has failed to comply with the states Data Practices Act by not responding to all citizens' requests for specific public data.
Fourth, at the May 2 Park Board meeting, Park Board President Jon Olson did not respect my First Amendment rights when he interrogated me, challenged me and then told me I could not finish my open time presentation. I was able to return to speak at the next meeting only because of the ACLU of Minnesota's intervention.
In its letter to the Park Board, the ACLU of Minnesota stated: We believe that the speech at issue here was clearly protected and should not have been censored simply because Ms. Fried was criticizing the work of government officials.
In conclusion, I would like to suggest that Superintendent Gurban work diligently to comply with the laws governing citizen participation, as well as the laws governing citizen access to public information.
I am also hoping that Board President Jon Olson will review the letter from the ACLU so that he has a clearer understanding of First Amendment Rights.
Arlene Fried, Bryn Mawr, Co-founder of Park Watch