tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63885080081388598.post4254106384112490682..comments2022-05-15T14:35:24.421-07:00Comments on Stuart Mackinnon's BetterParks: A crappy way to treat a neighbourhoodStuart Mackinnonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11381638078069146364noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63885080081388598.post-78280777427702214602012-05-31T16:57:41.190-07:002012-05-31T16:57:41.190-07:00Thank you Stuart — always ‘Commissioner Mackinnon’...Thank you Stuart — always ‘Commissioner Mackinnon’.<br /><br />Your example is but one of a number of ‘adjustments’ to the Park Board priorities that seem to have been implemented without public consultation and conversation — and all seem to be the result of recent severe budget reductions from Vancouver City Hall.<br /><br />Other examples include various unjustified and undebated ‘efficiency’ reorganizations that are significantly impacting ‘services to the public’, staff morale and the ability of the Park Board to contribute to the ‘lack of neighbourliness or community’ that the Vancouver Foundation has recently identified as being of grave concern.<br /><br />A number of decisions were made in the last several years without any or full debate as they were ‘temporary’ but with the ‘unexpected’ budget cuts these have become permanent. I truly believe that change is worthwhile when properly researched, based upon documented experience and explained but the historic process of managing change at the PB seems to have been lost — or at least not fully communicated. One primary example is the recent twinning of community centre supervision. I firmly believe that coorperation and consistency is healthy but not at the expense of serving the public and being that neighbourhood catalyst serving to bring some dialogue and service / programming cooperation with other very worthwhile service-providers in the neighbourhood such as neighbourhood houses, childcare facilities, libraries, schools, Ys etc. The recent PB recognition of being but one of a number of providers contributing to healthy communities is going to be lost before this ‘awakening’ can provide result. Another very recent example is childcare — on one hand the PB rejection of the much sought and excellent services that are Community Centre Association offered that has ended with the hiring of Malcolm Bromley from Toronto is being undermined by other PB decisions and City processes. This may be unintended but still unfortunate.<br /><br />I firmly believe that ‘stepping back’ or making time to plan is very productive but I see examples everyday of decisions being made that lack the necessary discipline, thought and institutional memory to ensure that they are appropriate.<br /><br />In all this — staff are one’s major resource — it is essential that proper professional development, support, supervision, internal promotion and advancement and career management be available to attract, retain, motivate and encourage staff and volunteers.<br /><br />Now don’t get me started — but with the recent moves to once again acknowledge and recognize volunteers and the long-standing partnerships that have developed since the Vancouver Baord of Parks and (Public) Recreation partnered with various community association that began the neighbhourhood / community Centre building processes in the late 1940′s and 1950′s ( not the other way around ) … I am hopeful that the time, efforts and frustrations ( over the last 12 years ) can be set aside and we can finally get back to serving our neighbours and publics.<br /><br />OK now I have vented and I can get back to my real vocation.<br /><br />NOTE — my comments are my own and personal for which I take full responsibility — those of a proud former Vancouver Park and Recreation Commissioner — 1986-1990 and 1999-2002 and the current President of the Mount Pleasant Community Association and as such they have not necessarily been discussed, debated or endorsed by the MPCCA Board.<br /><br />I would love to continue this discussion but if it will take more that 20 minutes we will have to go for a walk ….<br /><br />Thank you Stuart once again.Christopher JK Richardson, FCAnoreply@blogger.com