Policy To Protect Public Parks

Open space advocates laud Massachusetts governor's efforts to protect public parks from development.

1 minute read

July 30, 2003, 7:00 AM PDT

By Connie Chung


The Romney administration announced that it would "veto any bill requesting the conversion of parkland for other uses, unless an exhaustive state review has been conducted. That review requires cities and towns to show there is no other place to build a school or other facility but on parkland, and also mandates that any lost open space be replaced elsewhere within municipal borders....Particularly in municipalities that are tight on space, portions of parks have been carved up and used for water and sewer lines, police and fire stations, roads, housing, cemeteries, and schools.From now on, cities and towns must make an extra effort to explore alternatives, such as rehabilitating an existing school in a central location, before getting the governor's approval for building a new school in a park...."

Thanks to Connie Chung

Tuesday, July 29, 2003 in The Boston Globe

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