It is with great sadness that I just received a copy of the Fairmout Park Plan C letter, dated today, September 10, 2009. I've plead "ignorance is bliss" and ignored all things political this summer, apparently missing most of the details on the proposed city budget cuts that are looming. But when it comes to something that will affect the park system, well, it starts to get personal. The letter states that "...the City will be forced to discontinue operations of the Fairmount Park system after the close of business Friday, 2 October 2009." Well, pending approval of the sales tax increase from 7 to 8% that needs to be passed in Harrisburg. Cessation of operations includes "trash pick-up, litter removal, turf mowing, fountain operation, trail and ball field maintenance, tree planting, pruning and removal, facility and janitorial maintenance." That's a lot of things. Most mind-blowing are trash pick-up, mowing, field maintenance and janitorial service. That's right--no bathrooms. I mean, it basically means that these parks, which I recently bragged make up the 3rd? largest city park system in the country, will be largely unusable.
And beyond Fairmount Park effects, ALL libraries will be closing, garbage will be picked up bi-weekly, the Finance Department will eliminate 23 positions and, my personal favorite, 1,000 stop lights will be reduced to red blinking lights. True progress comes in cities with no libraries or parks.
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