|
under a private shops,but it ran into union opposition to outsourcing park
<br /> After parking, golf is operator.Thereafter, maintenance and has had to move more slowly on that front.
<br /> as leases on other
<br /> .the largest revenue source operations came up, The Down Side of Outsourcing
<br /> for most park agencies. they weren't Most observers feel that outsourcing is,on balance,a positive
<br /> automatically direction for parks. But there is a risk that,along with the
<br /> Other profitable ventures renewed.One services,some crucial park values can also end up being
<br /> chagrined outsourced,says Erma Tranter,director of Friends of the Parks,
<br /> include tennis, boat concessionaire was a citizen watchdog group in Chicago.
<br /> marinas, weddings and hotel mogul Donald "We're in support of privatization in certain areas,like
<br /> Trump,who was parking,which they were previously mismanaging,"says
<br /> other special events. outbid for the lease Tranter. "A lot of things they've done make sense and have been
<br /> Enterprises that are on the famous successful. But in the actual outcome,others have had their
<br /> Wollman Skating down sides."In Tranter's mind,privatized park systems can
<br /> generally less lucrative Rink in Central Park. work but are always potentially vulnerable to commercialism
<br /> include swimming pools, The city now gets and consumerism. "Someone has to be the park advocate,"she
<br /> $850,000 a year from says. "Either it's the park district itself or it's got to be the
<br /> ice skating rinks, the new person who manages the contracts with the private entity.If it's
<br /> ballfields, playgrounds, concessionaire (who the latter,we're very dependent on that person being an
<br /> still makes money on advocate for parks."
<br /> and bike trails. the deal). The reaction of New York's park-
<br /> watchers is similar."New York is
<br /> After that,the floodgates opened.The ' trying to privatize everything
<br /> yearly concession for a marina in - .' ;emu ` . "' 'i ' they can get their hands on,""
<br /> Queens fetched$150,000; the ` ---,,~ - - . , sa y s Dave Lutz,assistant
<br /> National Tennis Center in Forest ,. ` '::-':C.'"":.:°7, .- ' .. director of the
<br /> t s r:'
<br /> Hills brought$1.15 million and r `. Neighborhood Open
<br /> an indoor tennis complex in �' : � °' � '° Space Coalition.
<br /> Manhattan$290,000;the food ,-r ' "'
<br /> ` rw "There's good
<br /> concession in Battery Park, "" " fir" ,1 "i'F u'''`�Z.`-'"; privatization rivatization and
<br /> $730,000.And the ultimate: ;, ; ,; ,. ' fa : '4`, t ` ' f . . there's bad
<br /> •For the single pushcart selling .� 'r" V r; - s' 1 privatization,and
<br /> pretzels and hot dogs in front ,,,, E .' `a : .I-re " for the most part
<br /> t
<br /> of the Metropolitan Museum ,, T `F '
<br /> of Art in Central Park,an • • it fr f ow 00,c..,:..,. �,' �4,1'4 I . "" 5
<br /> astounding$288,000 per year. ' ''''' w " ,,11.r�.o ," '*,, �i�llli,`��'.,tt Pushcarts in
<br /> In the 18-year period between �+i'a'- It" vt = --" ' ' r: Central Park in
<br /> f !� ;:, /
<br /> 1979 and 1997,the city's parks : - . F New York,selling
<br /> ry' P.
<br /> department increased its annual a �, L
<br /> f hot dogs,pretzels,
<br /> concession and fee income from$2.5 ,a� i _, ` ice cream, and other
<br /> " +' treats, are a ma or
<br /> million to$36 million. �` 1
<br /> While New York is in a price league of its '''.1::'- '-`,,,..„,,,.." revenue generator for
<br /> own,other cities have taken notice of the . ,.A New York City every year.
<br /> privatization concept.In Indianapolis,the city's parks and s .
<br /> Marys Morris
<br /> recreation department,IndyParks,has signed contracts with Parks Commissioner Henry Stern has been very
<br /> seven churches to maintain 24 neighborhood parks.The churches, sensitive,but you have to ask,`When does privatization end up
<br /> which generally hire disadvantaged and hard-to-employ individuals driving the parks?"
<br /> from within and around the neighborhood,are responsible for Lutz finds New York's privatization leadership ironic. "When
<br /> mowing and trash pickup,and they sponsor annual cleanup days Central Park was built,"he wrote in his newsletter, Urban
<br /> for neighbors and parishioners to come and plant flowers,paint Outdoors Bulletin, "the New York model set off a wave of park
<br /> benches,etc.In some cases the churches have a direct monetary construction all over America. . . . Now,New York is the model
<br /> contract;in others they receive park services of equivalent value, for park budget parsimony and the nation is beating a path to
<br /> such as free use of parks,summer camps,or pools. our doorstep to see how."
<br /> "By leveraging the interest and commitment that church
<br /> leaders have in their neighborhoods,the program has been very Events
<br /> successful,"says IndyParks Director Deb Norman. User fees aren't the only way to make money off parks.There is a
<br /> Privatization is not an automatic winner,however.When growing recognition in the private sector that parkland and
<br /> San Diego Parks and Recreation Department analyzed its 1300 recreation programs have positive public values worth associating
<br /> acres-per-week mowing operation,it concluded keeping it in- with.And there is a growing boldness on the part of park agencies
<br /> house was"by far the best use of tax dollars,"according to staff to ask for financial payments in return for those associations.
<br /> member June Dudas. (Nevertheless, the department is analyzing Under the old way of doing business,park managers
<br /> outsourcing other functions.) Seattle has had a good experience generally allowed their facilities to be used by private entities for
<br /> outsourcing golf,marinas,restaurants and its zoo and aquarium free. Later,fees were instituted to cover costs associated with the
<br /> 3
<br />
|