I focus my blog posts on sharing information that I can back up with sources, in this post I am sharing my opinion. I believe the City should consider creating a Parks & Recreation Advisory Board because it would be an effective way to solve three significant problems I see related to Parks and Recreation in the City of Plymouth. I have blog posts that shar information on each of these issues if you are interested.
While I usually focus my blog posts on sharing information supported by sources, in this post, I am sharing my opinion. I believe the City should consider creating a Parks & Recreation Advisory Board, as it could effectively address three significant issues I have discussed in other parks & recreation posts:
- Insufficient Public Engagement
- Lack of a Long Term Plan
- Inefficient Spending
In my research on Parks & Recreation Advisory Boards/Commissions, I identified over 85 communities in Michigan that have established such boards. Here is a brief six-minute presentation, I created based on my research. Just click on it to watch the presentation.
I presented the idea of establishing a Parks and Recreation Advisory Board at three different City Commission meetings, but without success. I first introduced the concept during the public comments section of the December 4, 2023, City Commission meeting. After further investigation, I spoke again at the February 20, 2024, meeting, providing handouts with the information I had gathered. On April 15, 2024, I reiterated my request and asked to be placed on the agenda for the next City Commission meeting to deliver a brief presentation. You can watch the video of my public comments when I made this request (it is less than 2 minutes) by clicking on the image below.
Despite support from eight fellow citizens who spoke in favor of the request, it was not granted. Although two city commissioners met with me privately, I was unable to get a public discussion on the topic. I did find the following related to the Recreation Department on page 13 of the city budget:
“We also need to be aware of the negative impact of those people who are interested in creating an additional layer of bureaucracy in this department. The City Commission is the board that authorizes funding and policies for the recreation Department. There is no need to create another layer for policy appeals, when the current program of having the lead city board, the City Commission adopt recreation policies that are in place and working for the betterment of the community and the city”
A Parks and Recreation Advisory Board would add a layer of governance but solely in an advisory capacity, providing recommendations to the City Commission without any executive or administrative authority. The benefits of establishing this board would outweigh its minimal overhead by offering substantial support to the Recreation Department. The board would enhance community engagement, manage volunteers for events and programs, organize fundraising activities, pursue grants, and identify additional resources. These contributions would help meet the department’s needs and ensure that long-term strategic plans are closely aligned with community expectations.