PARK SYSTEM Warren group works out plan

Council will review the report at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday.
By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- A citizens committee established to develop a plan for the city parks system views creation of a park management structure as the plan's crucial first step.
The panel appointed by council just more than a year ago released its recommendations last week. A council meeting is set for 6:30 p.m. Wednesday to review the report. The recommendations are nonbinding.
"Hopefully, council gives serious consideration to implementing all or some of the recommendations," said Council President Robert A. Marchese.
The city lists 26 parks on its inventory, some of which are small pieces of property so tucked away that the average resident may not know they exist.
"This isn't the same city it was 30 years ago," said Marchese, who as an at-large councilman sponsored the legislation to create the committee. "The concept of a neighborhood park is nice, but it may not be affordable."
Putting it together
Committee members met an average of twice monthly, gathering information from department heads and individuals versed in different aspects of the parks. Andy Barkley, committee chairman, said members also researched the history of the city's parks.
The body developed a five-year plan, suggesting implementation of its recommendation year by year.
Among the recommendations is creation of a permanent park board and employment of a parks superintendent.
"We all agreed that the most critical element was creation of the management structure," Barkley said.
The city formerly staffed a parks superintendent, but that position was consolidated under the operations department several years ago because of budget constraints.
Some city parks have been closed for a few years because the city hasn't had the money to maintain them.
Breaking it down
The report lists each park, making recommendations that range from improving some, selling others and implementing standardized park shepherding policies to enable community groups to assume maintenance of those for which there is interest.
The report also suggests a parks and recreation levy to maintain and improve the park system be placed on the ballot by 2009.
Although the committee officially dissolved upon the report's completion, Barkley hopes members are included in the implementation process.
"Now it's time for the work to really begin," he said.
In doing the research, committee members found that about 20 years ago, a similar committee made similar recommendations, but no action was taken.
"It's time to take action," Barkley said. "We don't want every 20 years for the same things being said and nothing being done."
denise_dick@vindy.com