Fwd: Atlanta City Council Passes Strong 2008 Parks Budget!

[Adam Brackman]

FYI.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Pride, Park <park...@parkpride.org>
Date: Jun 6, 2007 10:28 AM
Subject: Atlanta City Council Passes Strong 2008 Parks Budget!
To: park...@atlantaga.gov

 

I am pleased to announce that by a vote of 13-1, the Atlanta City Council passed a fiscal 2008 budget that provides a significant increase in parks and recreation funding, as proposed by Mayor Franklin.  The new budget will allow the Parks Department to hire an additional 10 full-time and 10 seasonal employees while continuing on-pace toward meeting enhanced operational and maintenace standards by 2010.  The budget also demonstrates a strong commitment by the City toward creation of the Atlanta BeltLine—including its 1,000+ acres of new parks and 33 miles of trails—a reality.

 

We owe the Mayor and each of our City Council members gratitude for supporting this year's parks and recreation budget (the lone vote against the budget was not a park-related decision).  The vote marks that first time in more than 30 years that a tight city budget did not equate to deep cuts in park funding.  It reflects a heightened awareness among our elected officials of the multitude of ways that parks and greenspace benefit our quality of life.

 

Let me also thank the hundreds of people who showed their support for parks and greenspace.  Well more than 200 people e-mailed City Council to express their support for the budget.  More than 50 showed up at public hearings and the budget vote to show their support.  Nearly 60 organizations, as well as dozens of individuals, sent letters to City Council supporting the vote.  Park Pride values each and every one of these efforts—they represent a strong, unified voice for Atlanta's parks.

 

Now that City Council and the Mayor have shown their support for our parks and greenspace, I encourage you to show your appreciation for their support by going to the parks with your friends and family.  There are hundreds of ways to enjoy yourselves in metro Atlanta's parks -- all the while making you healther and happier.

 

George Dusenbury

Executive Director

Park Pride

675 Ponce de Leon Avenue, 8th Floor

(404) 817-7970

www.parkpride.org

 

By removing pollutants from the air, parks help reduce the incidence of asthma, coronary disease and cancer.