Protecting the Park from Zoo Expansion
Organization name: The Friends of Buttonwood Park www.buttonwoodpark.org
Organizational category: Non-profit organization
Introduction/Organization description:
The Friends of Buttonwood Park is a volunteer non-profit organization established in 1986, in accordance with a recommendation of the Massachusetts DCA’s 1986 Olmsted Master Plan for the Renewal of Buttonwood Park. Its mission is to support the maintenance, management and improvement of the park and to oversee the implementation of the Master Plan.
Program goals/description:
In 1895, Charles Eliot of Olmsted, Olmsted and Eliot developed a master plan for Buttonwood Park in New Bedford, Massachusetts. Buttonwood Park today is a 97-acre urban oasis listed on the National Register of Historic Places. But over the years, various facilities were placed in the park, including a zoo, and the design of the park and its naturalistic setting were becoming submerged by a jumble of buildings.
Then in 1986, $15 million was authorized for the Olmsted Program, a statewide effort to preserve and rehabilitate public open spaces designed by the Olmsted firm. $1.55 million was devoted to planning the rehabilitation of Buttonwood Park according to Olmsted design principles. The City of New Bedford adopted the master plan for all future park related improvements, nominated the park to the National Register and formed the Friends of Buttonwood Park, all requirements of the grant.
Implementation of the plan succeeded in relocating several facilities from the park’s center. The Olmsted-designed grand pedestrian concourse was rehabilitated.
Buttonwood Park received a further boost from the Historic Landscape Preservation Grant Program. From 1996-1998, over $200,000 was invested in the park. At that time, the Buttonwood Park Zoo requested an expansion. After negotiations, the Friends of Buttonwood Park agreed that the Zoo could take three additional acres in the park.
The Friends of Buttonwood Park engaged in many stewardship activities, leading walks in the park, park cleanups and planting over 250 trees.
The restoration and enhancement of the park has recently been challenged by the Buttonwood Park Zoo’s draft plan to expand another 15 acres into the park. Not only that; but plans to increase zoo attendance would require more parking, subtracting even more acreage from the park. In addition, the recommendation to erect a tall fence, obscuring the view of the zoo from park visitors are also at odds with the original landscape design.
In short, the Olmsted firm’s vision of open public access to a relaxing and beautiful park would be severely damaged by expansion of the zoo.
The Friends of Buttonwood Park (FOBP) swung into action. The group’s president (and former Buttonwood Park Zoo director) Lou Garibaldi testified at a September, 2010 hearing that:
“The Friends of Buttonwood Park recognize that the Zoo is a valuable asset to this community. However, as the designated stewards of the Park, the Friends are mandated by the 1987 Master Plan to protect the historic vision for the Park which calls for a pastoral, naturalistic, and democratic setting where the urban population can enjoy both passive and active recreation unencumbered by barriers and fences. Therefore, the Friends are opposed to the new Master Plan, as presented, which extends the Zoo’s footprint north of the existing boundary.”
When public meetings were scheduled on short notice and with very little advertising, FOBP knocked on doors and sent postcards to residents of the surrounding neighborhoods. They mobilized their own members and contacted other preservation groups. They met with reporters. And they contacted the National Association for Olmsted Parks (NAOP).
As the national organization charged with safeguarding and enhancing the Olmsteds’ legacy, NAOP was concerned about the erosion of one of the historical 19th-century parks. In advance of a critical public hearing in January, 2011, NAOP sent a letter to New Bedford’s mayor, city council and local press advocating that Buttonwood Park be preserved from zoo expansion. NAOP pointed out that the grant awarded in 1996 required the City to maintain the park as publicly-accessible open space.
At the urging of the Friends, the proposed Zoo Master Plan (view a PDF of the plan by clickig here) became accessible for viewing on the city’s website and in hardcover at the zoo and public libraries. Various mailings and two newspaper ads alerted the community to speak out at three public hearings. Subsequent to the first hearing, the Mayor joined neighbors and other interested stakeholders on walks along the perimeter of the land in question. Lou Garibaldi appeared on ‘talk radio’ shows and several op-ed pieces were written by members and supporters. The Park Board was presented with over 250 signatures on petitions opposing the zoo’s expansion. Additionally, members of the Friends’ executive board were invited to meet with the editorial board of the local newspaper, which has since proclaimed its opposition to the Zoo Master Plan. View a PDF of an advocacy letter to the Boston, MA, Mayor’s Office by clicking here.
As a result of the efforts of the Friends of Buttonwood Park, the Mayor appointed a task force to make recommendations to the Park Commissioners as to whether the zoo can expand beyond its existing footprint. Task force members, including Lou Garibaldi, the President of FOBP, the director of the Zoo, the President of the Park Commission and neighborhood representatives have had several meetings. They are now seeking a facilitator to help them manage their discussions and develop recommendations.
The publicity generated by the Friends has had a beneficial side effect: many more people are now aware of the historic nature of Buttonwood Park. To capitalize on growing interest, the Friends of Buttonwood Park is planning a spring membership drive and special events to attract and educate new supporters. The Friends hope that the proposed Zoo expansion will not be approved, but long experience has taught them that the only security for a historic landscape is dependent on the passion and knowledge of its advocates and community.
Click here to find a photographic review of the proposed expansion area. Contact information:
The Friends of Buttonwood Park
P.O. Box 2011
New Bedford, MA 02745
Email:
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