April 23, 2012

The Honorable Stephanie Rawlings-Blake Mayor, City of Baltimore Via email:

Dear Madam Mayor: The purpose of this letter is to reach out to you and your administration at a time of budgetary crisis to lend leadership and support on an issue near and dear to our hearts: Baltimore Citys children. In 2008, our Recreation and Parks Advisory Board adopted a work program that outlined what we thought would become a guide to developing policies and standards to direct the Departments future. We asked for a meeting with you in order to see if our suggestions were in line with your thinking and vision. Instead met with Deputy Mayor Kaliope Parthemos, who did not provide us with a vision or a proactive plan. Since our Advisory Board was appointed four years ago, the Department of Recreation and Parks has had three Directors and faced at least three budget reductions. Last year, the citizens of Baltimore were threatened with recreation facility closures right before the height of the summer season. This year, seven of thirteen pools are slated for closing. While we certainly understand the demands of a budgetary crisis, we are concerned that the continued threats to our recreation and parks system send the wrong message to our citizens about our priorities, particularly when the Department of Recreation and Parks is already in a precarious position. Rather than placing the department under attack, we are suggesting that we use this crisis to galvanize support from the public, corporate and nonprofit sectors by implementing a strategy designed to unify our city around delivery of critical services to our children, while protecting their access to pools this summer. At our meetings on the third Wednesday evening each month , we listen as staff presents marginal program successes despite reductions in staff and resources. We listen to residents who express frustration over a department that is not meeting community needs. Enough is Enough!!!! As you know, our most recent Director left the position just after two years. And while the dedicated staff continue to do great work, we believe that the lack of sustained leadership of the Department, coupled with a lack of sustained support by local government, have been an issue for two decades, threatening to destabilize the few successes that we have been able to achieve. Our children cannot afford it. Our City cannot afford it. Enough is Enough!! Therefore, we are putting forth our recommendations along with our commitment to support you and your administration in their implementation: 1. We recommend that the $1.27 million allocated to Baltimore City Recreation and Parks from Program Open Space(POS) be used mostly in the 2013 Operating Budget to improve and support pools. 2. We recommend that the remainder of the POS funds be used to plan, design and build splash pads to replace what staff might determine as antiquated and unsafe walk-to pools.

3. We recommend that the Department immediately begin an in-depth evaluation process of its financial, programmatic, personnel and management policies and practices using the accreditation guidelines as set forth by the Commission on Accreditation for Parks and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA). 4. We recommend that the Department be held harmless ,in the 2013 budget, without cuts in cuts in direct services to children and seniors. 5. We recommend that priority be given to fully support technological requirements that will enhance internal communications between recreation and park facilities as well as enhance greater access to facilities and services by its customers. 6. We recommend that a full audit be performed by an outside auditor. 7. We recommend that the Advisory Board have some input into the selection of the next Director. 8. We recommend that the next Directors contract include job performance measures that include progress on CAPRA and full citizen participation in the development of the annual Capital Improvement Program. Your BCRP Advisory Board is dedicated to doing the best job possible in guiding this Department to greatness. However, support and dedication from you, Madam Mayor, your leadership team and the BCRP staff is critical in making Baltimore citizens proud of our recreational offerings and programs.

Sincerely,

The Recreation and Parks Advisory Board Carolyn D. Wainwright, President Daniela Amzel, Member Tracey Ward Durkin, Member Vernon Reid, Member Gary Sever, Member