4 Questions to Keep Officials in Check
Challenges to power only residents can make
As a community advocate, I often had to bite my tongue when I worked in a government position and needed to stay on good, cooperative terms with formal decision makers. Higher ups vetoed plans that I proposed to look out for residents’ interests, and no one pushed back because residents didn’t know what options or specifics to request. There also were battles I couldn’t pick and still keep my job.
I believed that if others understood some of what was going on, they’d be outraged. It felt like people just needed to ask the right question or raise a one specific issue, and they would see what was going on. We were on the verge of prioritizing projects with more broad definitions of serving the community, but we needed more focused citizen demand for them.
I wished the residents I worked with would ask questions about fairness, accessibility, and implications for their neighborhood. I wanted them to call out corruption when they heard the answers, and I dreamed about them holding their leadership accountable.
When you show up to meetings or participate in public commentary for city planning, these are some uncomfortable questions I hope you ask:
Who is making decisions about this park?
The person, people, and entity planning a project make a big difference in its outcome. If it’s any one other than the parks and recreation department, ask lots of questions about why the park is installed with public rather than private dollars and how local residents have access to the park and its planning process. How are decisions being made and what priorities are they using to make decisions? In my experience, economic development planned parks raise red flags. Also, if only one group is involved (as opposed to many departments or groups working in tandem), some perspectives are probably being left out.
Why is this park going here, and why now?
Where a park is situated speaks to how it is or is not socially just and equitable. In many communities, low income areas and areas with more racial minorities have been historically and continually disinvested in. They are also the areas that often house residents who don’t have easy access to transportation and who need amenities within walking distance. If a park is going in an area that is wealthy, exclusive, or commercial, there should be a transparent reason it is taking priority over places with higher need.
I’ve seen individuals in government give parks out as political favors and as deals to business owners. I’ve seen them work to get amenities near their own homes. This is not okay, and it cannot be justified. Find out who is benefitting most from a project. Call out plans that look sketchy.
How can we make this more accessible?
Minimum requirements for ADA accessibility are not great, and if a community wants to be welcoming to people with all kinds of abilities, they have to go beyond those standards. This especially affects people on playgrounds, trails, and exercise courses. For instance, technically a wheelchair or walker can go on playground wood chips, but the experience afforded for anyone using those modalities is limited.
Push for more. Pressure officials to fund parks so that they can be relevant and useful to everyone.
Where are we represented in this park?
High end design, while pretty, is often not wonderful for residents. It caters to outsiders and can have an exclusionary effect. Local culture should be showcased. Residents should have their fingerprints all over a park and should feel welcome in the space.
Ask about ways in which community groups and neighborhood residents can participate in planning and executing historical signage, artwork, and other artifacts. The more that people genuinely want to be involved, request to have decision making power, and participate in planning and care for the park, the safer the park is from outside interests.
Anyone working with the government often walks a fine line between informing residents about what is going on and delivering the message that those in power want the public to hear. Asking these questions about who the park is serving is really important. Listen closely to answers, and find people you trust in local government and community organizations that will help guide you in discerning their sometimes coded meaning.
If you get a heads up that a park or city plan is problematic, show up at planning and council meetings and make noise.
Everyone has a voice. Unfortunately, residents are afraid to speak out and disagree with the officials who are erroneously deemed "smarter " than the local folks. "My opinion won't make a difference"is a mindset that has been passed from generation to generation. It's so sad to see good ideas and natural-born leaders ignored just because of outdated social norms. I agree with you, Stephanie. Education is key. Residents need to know how they can make a difference and then take the big step and attend meeting to speak out. That includes all of us.