Thanks for sharing your concerns. Please note that we only prep fields when there is scheduled game play so you will see baseball fields overgrown off season.

There is not Friends of DeGale but we would be happy to support a group that wants to organize around cleanups to help supplement the work that staff does - this is an heavily utilized park.

To: Ms. Rebecca Bombero, Director Parks Recreation & Trees

On Oct 1, 2015, you replied;

"Thanks for sharing your concerns. Please note that we only prep fields when there is scheduled game play so you will see baseball fields overgrown off season.

There is not Friends of DeGale but we would be happy to support a group that wants to organize around cleanups to help supplement the work that staff does - this is an heavily utilized park. '

Response:

1. The fact that this is a heavily utilized park is reason alone that clean-up, regular maintenance, and field preparation should be scheduled regularly.

2. It is apparent that you prep fields other than when games are scheduled, reference East Shore park for example, always meticulously manicured, in or out of season.

3. on page 3-24 of your FY 15/16 budget goals and initiatives you write:
".Improve the maintenance of our fields to EXPAND playing opportunities."

". Recruit and grow our parks friends groups. "
Yet in your response you claim that neither of these goals are your responsibility. I clearly disagree and impress upon you again the dire condition Hillhouse and Degale are presently under, which demands your immediate attention.

Thank you for your time and consideration, I hope to hear from you again soon.

Ken Joyner

DeGale park is cleaned regularly and we have a crew assigned especially for daily extra cleanup at the playground. Unfortunately, this occurs once a day. We have only 21 full time caretakers to maintain 2,200 acres, 47 playgrounds and 63 fields (some fields overlap based on season).

East Shore Park has both spring and fall leagues and has active play from March to November.

We are working to expand maintenance of the fields - while we did request additional personnel to meet this goal we have ordered mechanical draggers and edgers that will be delivered before the spring to help us continue to do more with less. Based upon the demands of personnel it does not make sense to drag the fields (the only way to ensure grass does not grow in dirt areas) when there is no scheduled play.

We do want to recruit and grow friends groups. This process should not be top down. By supporting groups of engaged stakeholders organizing around cleanups, then moving these groups to green space groups and to a more formalized friends group with officers and scheduled events we hope to grow these advocates. There are numerous groups along the spectrum of development right now.

Ms. Bombero,

Thank you for your response. However, I did not read any thing in your response that the problem as reported by me and others on this thread, is in the process of being taken care of.

You say..."Based upon the demands of personnel it does not make sense to drag the fields (the only way to ensure grass does not grow in dirt areas) when there is no scheduled play.

According to your end of year monthly report your department hired 12 seasonal caretakers@$10.00 an hour. Many of those workers have said the full time care takers(21) took a back seat while the temps performed most of the work particularly at lighthouse park where revenue is received.

Even if that were true or not, your dept reported a year end budget deficit of $118K over an operating budget of $5,101,340M for 2014. In addition you reported in the June monthly report spending $310k in overtime $128K over budget. It strikes me as being incomprehensible that a field located in the central city, in full view of officials and residents cannot receive the care and maintenance it once received and is now being ignored no matter what the season, no matter the budget, no matter the overtime allotted.

This performance and the excuse you provided here is unacceptable.

Please take the proper care of these fields as soon as practicable this month. George "Clutcher" would smile on you from his grave.

Ken Joyner

Establishing a Friends of DeGale Field group is on the WEB management team agenda for 2016. This is a very popular park for the surrounding neighborhoods and we would love to see it receive better care and more attention so that we can have more events, including a farmer's market here.

Ms.
Nadine Herring, thank you for your interest and your action taken. continue to monitor the park dept. for their responsibility.

Ken Joyner
First citizen respondent on this issue.

Thanks Nadine. We look forward to working with the group and providing support for your work. As we have put the fields to bed for the winter I'm going to close this issue.

Thanks Rebecca, I look forward to getting started on this in the new year and working with you to make it happen!