Councillors seek policy changes to Parks & Rec Dept. to better serve residents

By Barbara Taormina

REVERE – Councillor-at-Large Juan Pablo Jaramillo and Ward 4 Councillor Paul Argenzio filed a motion at the last City Council meeting calling for a public hearing on their proposal to revamp the City’s Department of Parks and Recreation. In their motion, the councillors said the goal is to increase public safety by expanding recreational opportunities for young people. The councillors are calling for the present ordinance outlining the structure and responsibilities of the department to be deleted and replaced with an updated and expanded ordinance.

“This was not meant to be a criticism of the current department,” said Argenzio. “They are doing a great job.”

But Jaramillo and Argenzio feel things could be even better. Argenzio said the Parks and Rec Dept. is growing with the opening of the Haas Health and Wellness Center and the Garfield School community center.

“We want to revive the Parks and Recreation Commission, an advisory commission, that has existed for years but wasn’t always filled with appointments from prior mayors,” said Argenzio, who added that the public could become more involved in programming through the Commission.

The councillors are calling for several specific updates, including lights scheduling that will keep night lights on at outdoor facilities until at least 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 10 pm on Fridays and Saturdays. Argenzio said the idea came from residents on Fernwood Street who noticed at night that the lights were on at the stadium but off at the basketball courts where kids were still playing.

Jaramillo and Argenzio are also asking for the department to maintain an online calendar that will show when teams and sports organizations are scheduled to use fields and courts and when those facilities will be open to the public. “These are public resources and taxpayers paid for them,” said Argenzio. “Everyone has a right to certain amount of time.”

The councillors also believe the Parks and Recreation Commission should include seven members who will bring different areas of expertise to the table. They have proposed including, one male, one female, one youth, a member of a nonprofit organization, a member from public works, a business owner who is engaged in the recreation of Revere’s young people and a city councillor.

The new ordinance will put the department director in charge of scheduling the use of fields and facilities and setting fees. Priority will be given to Revere residents and nonprofit organizations.

The council voted to send the motion to the Parks and Recreation Subcommittee for further review. Jaramillo was not available for comment.