Parks & Rec subcommittee to address park accessibility, safety at public hearing

By Barbara Taormina

REVERE – The City Council’s subcommittee on Youth & Parks and Recreation grappled this week with changes to the ordinance for Revere’s parks and recreation. Councillor-at-Large Juan Pablo Jaramillo and Ward 4 Councillor Paul Argenzio filed a motion that the city hold a public hearing for the purposes of increasing public safety by expanding recreational opportunities for young people. At the heart of the councillors’ proposal is a revitalization of the city’s Parks Commission.

Argenzio said the city’s Parks Commission has existed for years but there were never enough members appointed to make it effective. “We’re seeking to restructure this group with diverse members,” said Argenzio. “We think it will make for a healthier exchange with input from the public.”

Although public safety and keeping young people focused on sports was the main theme of the proposal, Argenzio also stressed that public fields, facilities and open spaces are something every taxpayer has a right to enjoy. “The Parks and Recreation department does an excellent job of renting out fields and I wouldn’t want to disturb that,” said Argenzio, who then spoke about an online calendar where residents can check if fields or basketball courts are in use and plan accordingly.

“We are looking to make the city more accessible to parents and young people,” said Jaramillo. “As we grow, we want to provide tools needed to fully enjoy parks, fields and open spaces.” The proposed changes also call for extending the hours lights are on at different facilities, particularly basketball courts.

Michael Hinojosa, director of Parks and Recreation, addressed some of the points in the proposal. Hinojosa said renting and reserving fields is all done through him and it works without any problems. He worries that if an online calendar says a field is open a dozen teams will rush to it along with families and kids. He didn’t think a live calendar would be useful.

As for extending hours, Hinojosa said the problem is that kids don’t leave immediately. And several popular basketball courts are located in residential neighborhoods. Lighting and crowds have been a problem for them.

“I do everything possible to make sure kids play,” said Hinojosa. But he went on to say that protecting the city’s assets, such as the stadium, Griswold Park and the turf field at Rumney Marsh Academy, are also part of his job. When left unlocked, dog walkers have tended to misuse those spaces, which is why residents find them locked and inaccessible.

Members of the committee agreed on the potential value of having a newly formed Parks Commission that could engage the community and better understand the type of programing Revere families most want. But they were divided on some of the other changes the proposal was calling for.

“We all have thoughts and ideas about this,” said Argenzio. “A Parks Commission could discuss these things. As Councillor Jaramillo said, creative thinking could be done.”

The committee voted to keep the motion in committee for another round of discussion before moving forward to the full council.