In fact, the benefits that parks produce far outweigh their costs. And yet, parks are typically the first and easiest target of budget cutters. A single park can cause a ripple effect throughout the community. An ill-maintained park becomes vulnerable to vandalism and crime. A playground covered in graffiti invites more and so does a field scattered with trash. Reduced property values are the inevitable results.
I say that's wrong and it needs to stop. Our parks represent the best of our community and they must be protected.
2 comments:
One problem is the current super conservative view that government is bad. Maybe the answer (for them) is private parks. For now, there will be no money for park maintenance.
It is an interesting fact that most of the major national parks, conservation areas and preserves were created between the end of the 19th century and the Great Depression. Since we are sliding into another recession (no one dares use the word Depression anymore) there is an opportunity for government to use maintenance, development and creation of parks as an economic stimulus as well as environmental protection.
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