Audio By Carbonatix
An intriguing invite just arrived in the Unfair Park in-box: On November 6, the Park and Rec Board is hosting a daylong summit at the Fair Park Music Hall, during which Mayor Tom will deliver a keynote before the limited-to-500-attendees go in their separate directions to learn how to become “park advocates.” All the council members are expected to attend; so too “nationally and locally acclaimed park and recreation experts.” Which now explains why the Park Board has a summit planning meeting scheduled for this afternoon at Dallas City Hall.
The full release follows, but the reason for the early heads-up is due to the limited space. City Hall has set up a website where those so interested can RSVP, as the deadline to do so is October 1, and registration’s limited to two folks per organization, if that’s how you roll.
Board member and summit organizer Lee Kleinman makes it clear in this morning’s announcement that the event’s tied to forthcoming Park and Rec budget cuts that “will have an obvious visual and functional impact on parks,” per the City Hall summary. “We want citizens to speak in
support of increased parks and recreation funding,” Kleinman says, “and make their elected
officials, friends and neighbors aware of the critical need to invest in
urban parks and recreation programs.” Also: Can you spare a lawn mower?
More than 30 Workshops Will Highlight Ways Citizens Can Become Advocates
for Dallas Parks
(DALLAS) – Building strong citizen alliances and partnerships is
what the Dallas Park and Recreation Board hopes will happen when it
convenes a forum to educate stakeholders about the benefits of parks and
recreation programs within their communities.The Park Board joins with the Dallas Park and Recreation
Department and Dallas Parks Foundation to host the first-ever Dallas
Parks Stakeholders’ Summit from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 6 at
Fair Park. Thirty-six citizen-focused breakout sessions will address the
indispensable role of parks and recreation programs in shaping Dallas’
economic, social, health and environmental vitality. Individuals and
stakeholder groups interested in becoming parks advocates can attend the
summit at no cost, thanks to the financial support of the Dallas Parks
Foundation and several area sponsors.“Advocates are people and groups who are passionate about our
city’s parks and recreation services. We want citizens to speak in
support of increased parks and recreation funding and make their elected
officials, friends and neighbors aware of the critical need to invest in
urban parks and recreation programs,” said Lee Kleinman, event organizer
and Park Board member.Kleinman said he anticipates the summit will attract members of
established and newly organized friends groups, sports and athletic
clubs, homeowners and neighborhood associations, environmental
coalitions, and community social and civic organizations. Attendance is
limited to 500 participants, he added.A keynote address by Mayor Tom Leppert and the opportunity for
participants to visit with their respective City Council members will
highlight the daylong event. Workshops led by nationally and locally
acclaimed park and recreation experts will examine issues crucial to the
parks and recreation field. Topics will include creating successful
public-private partnerships, launching effective friends groups,
increasing citizen advocacy, and working with the City of Dallas to
initiate innovative programs and services development.
