MEETING Warren council to review five-year plan for parks

The citizens' group spent about a year developing the plan.
By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- Council members will review recommendations by a citizens parks committee tonight and decide whether to accept them, the council president says.
"We want to move forward on the creation of a [park] commission or board," said Council President Robert Marchese.
The meeting is set for 6:30 in council's caucus room.
That was one recommendation made by the nine-member committee after about a year of studying the park system, researching its history and developing a plan for its future.
The recommendations are binding and council, which appointed committee members, will decide whether to implement them in full, in part or not at all.
This marks the second meeting where council has discussed the committee report, which was released earlier this month.
Andy Barkley, committee chairman, said he expected the process of presentation to council to take more than one session.
"I was very pleased," he said. "They've been very receptive and open-minded to it."
One of the recommendations was creation of a permanent park board or commission.
"I think we could turn the parks over to a commission to run," Marchese said.
The only recommendation he opposes is hiring a park superintendent. Frank Tempesta, director of operations, already oversees the parks and the city doesn't have the money to hire another department head, Marchese said, adding that he believes other council members agree.
Barkley said the panel expected the financing of that position to be an issue.
"I think there are some ways to do it without necessarily hiring someone," he said. "It's not something I'm willing to give up on as an idea."
Recommendations
Of the 26 parks listed on the city inventory, the citizens' groups recommended selling three, returning three to the city school district, developing shepherding agreements with community organizations for two and improving part and selling the remainder of another. Shepherding involves a community group maintaining a park while ownership remains with the city.
Those recommended for sale are the two-acre Liberty Steel Park located on the southwest side off of Millard Street, and Gould-Stewart and North End parks.
The city should return Central, Lincoln and Deemer parks to the school district and develop agreements for shepherding for Southwest and Quinby, both in the southwest end. The nearly 20-acre Interfaith Park, located in the southeast part of the city, should be reduced by two-thirds with excess property sold.
The panel developed a five-year plan, suggesting implementation of its recommendation year by year.
Another recommendation was placement of a parks levy on the ballot in 2009 to provide funding to maintain and improve the park system.
"If the residents want to do that, they should have the opportunity," Marchese said.
denise_dick@vindy.com