Vote Medford 2007

Full Text: (Q11) Analysis and Action Plan for Medford Parks

Medford's parks are being vandalized. What can the city do to rid the parks of crime and its consequences, which include graffiti, broken playground equipment and trash? What do you believe the root cause of the problem is? What is your solution and how would you implement it?

Arena: (Q11) Analysis and Action Plan for Medford Parks

Most of our parks are adequately maintained, and support a wide variety of sports and recreational activities, both day and evening. I, for one, am very proud of the work of our parks department which is operating at its lowest staffing levels in our city's history. Vandalism and other crimes are plagues that seem to infect many parks at night, and it is a plague not unique to Medford. Our police patrol and protect as much as they can, but often their efforts are in response to calls after the fact. I would ask the police chief and the courts to consider community service for individuals who vandalize our parks and playgrounds as a deterrent. Neighborhood watch and citizen participation in and around our parks could also deter this type of activity.

Burke: (Q11) Analysis and Action Plan for Medford Parks

Enforcement! We need to have a greater presence to rid the parks of this vandalism and destruction of public property. We should be promoting community watch groups to take ownership of our public spaces. Likewise, expand our adopt a site to include our parks. We also need to acknowledge that we do not have local activities for our kids. I'm not talking about organized sports but private enterprise offering things like bowling, movies, rock climbing etc. It would be a win-win for the business person and the city as we have a captive audience. For those entrepreneurs out there, look at this overlooked market segment.

Camuso: (Q11) Analysis and Action Plan for Medford Parks

We need to provide our youth with more to do in their non-school/work hours. We need to create youth councils to help us utilize peer pressure. We also need more law enforcement patrols for the parks. This is not just a Medford issue. It is true around the country.

Chamberlain: (Q11) Analysis and Action Plan for Medford Parks

Although the practicality of constant surveillance of city parks by law enforcement is unrealistic increased patrols would help. More importantly the youth of Medford must have activities and recreation opportunities that discourage gang activity that may lead to public property damage in parks and playgrounds. Also Medford city departments responsible for safe and clean parks must improve maintenance and repair activities.

Dello Russo: (Q11) Analysis and Action Plan for Medford Parks

The issue is complex and the solution is as well. The solution? We need more police to patrol the parks and playgrounds. We need more DPW personnel to care for these resources and a plan of action to improve and upgrade what we have. I do not want to speculate on the cause. Maybe we need to find a way to instill an ethic of civic responsibility in our school children and their parents. The solution comes with a very large price tag. The sad part is that neglect has an even bigger price tag.

Lungo: (Q11) Analysis and Action Plan for Medford Parks

The root cause of the vandalism problem is the fact that older children and teens have very little to do during the summer months. One solution that George Scarpelli a Medford Coach and gym teacher, School committee women Ann Marie Cugno and I had, was to implement a summer camp for Medford children, along with sports clinics for our teenage population. With the help and support of so many, the 6 months of hard work, pushing, and planning became a reality.

This past summer was the first summer of the camp at the Columbus School. Words cannot explain how well it went, with over one hundred children signed up for each of the seven weeks. George Scarpelli was the director with Anthony Petrelis and Arianna Lungo as the assistant directors, and many college and high school camp counselors working under them. They did a fabulous job and I was so proud of their dedication and hard work. The children and teens loved the camp and clinics, the parents had an affordable place to send their children, it created jobs within the city, and it kept many children and teenagers occupied. It was a win, win and I am proud to have been part of it all.

Maiocco: (Q11) Analysis and Action Plan for Medford Parks

This is a long-standing problem that requires constant attention. Increase police patrols, encourage neighborhood participation and work within the schools to make young people realize that these facilities are for their benefit.

Marks: (Q11) Analysis and Action Plan for Medford Parks

Even the smallest crime is a blight upon our city. And yet, I must point out that Medford has more than 25 parks, that the City, in my opinion, makes a strong effort to maintain them, and that there is much open space in the city. I am the first to call out for more police presence, but I also feel as though this is a great opportunity for Medford citizens to become more proactive in taking care of their city . That begins in creating a good role model at home by disposing of trash properly, for example. In schools, teachers and other figures of authority should be proactive in making sure that word goes out that there is a zero-tolerance for any type of vandalism. The best way to counter-act vandalism to create close relationships among those who are thought to commit the crimes, and those thought to have an influence in stopping the criminals from causing damage. Whether that is parent/child, clergy/congregation, teacher/student does not matter. The word must go out that there is a link between personal and community responsibility.

Penta: (Q11) Analysis and Action Plan for Medford Parks

Medford has 26 park type locations. With the limited amount of city workers working the parks they do a respectable job. Parents and school education failure to teach children to respect property is a major factor for park abuse. All leagues and folks using parks should be held to a standard of leaving the park in the condition they found it. Many times adults abuse the parks and unfortunately abuse the standards that we try to impose on all park users no matter the age. The solution for park control needs to be reviewed by the Park Board via public hearings for community input so as to impose stringent rules with enforcement that is for real.