First Ward Alderman John Craig told the Common Council last week that if paperwork and meetings begin soon, local representatives could bring a resolution to the state this year to dissolve several city parks.
With city workers stretched thin and more than 20 city parks requiring maintenance, the council began discussions last summer on whether to eliminate parks that have been closed or underused. The closed Kibler Park at 299 Elmwood Ave. and Dudley Square Park at 261 Union St. have been the focus of the discussion.
In the past, in order to remove or “alienate” a park from use, the state required that a new park be established. Craig said his research has found that it is no longer the case.
“Our workforce and staffing for parks costs $600,000 a year,” Craig said. With the state’s go-ahead, parkland could be sold and developed, generating tax revenue as well as reducing maintenance costs. Craig said proceeds from the land sale could be invested in existing parks.
“Playground equipment is a couple of hundred thousand dollars,” Craig said. “Any kind of amenity for a park isn’t cheap. The community pool needs a lot of support. There’s state funding, but it requires matching dollars.”
The committee for the new Aaron Mossell Park, which would utilize the old Harrison Radiator parking lot between South Street and Elmwood Avenue, is awaiting a response from the state for their initial plans, which would include significant green space for play and relaxation.
During an inspection of Kibler Park with John Donnelly, then city engineer, Kevin Kirchberger, alderman-at-large, said neighbors expressed interest in the land.
“They said, ‘I would love to extend my yard if I could,’ ” Kirchberger said.
To dissolve municipal parks, the state requires that both houses of the assembly create a resolution for a vote.
“They may not approve it,” Craig said. “It gets put in as part of a package. I think it’s up to the state legislature committees to work on it. There may be hearings and follow-ups with municipalities. They make a recommendation for it to go forward or not. Last year, 15 parks in the state were allowed to be alienated.”
Craig has scheduled a public youth and parks forum at city hall for Feb. 20. He has a meeting with state Representative Paul Bologna and state Senator Robert Ortt in March to move forward with the plan developed following the forum.
Speaking last summer about eliminating Dudley Square, Craig said, “The First Ward has Rogers Park, which is within reasonable walking distance, and there’s Veteran’s Park,” Craig said. “There’s Dolan Park. Those other parks could be utilized. Dudley isn’t getting used now. It’s probably the most logical choice.”
In 2025, Margaret Lupo, then serving as 5th Ward alderman, said, “We need to adjust our parks to what people need now. I think we need to do a better job of maintaining them. We have a significantly decreased number of staff. We expect 25 to 30 people to do the work of 100. And that’s not working out.”
While a proponent of parks and youth programs, Marcus Wyche, 2nd Ward alderman, said he recognizes that point.
“I’m not against the parks being reduced if they’re not being used to their full potential,” Wyche said. “Because there’s no activity at Dudley Park, I wouldn’t be against it. If we can get rid of it and use that money for another park that’s utilized, that would be good.”
Speaking of the maintenance burden, Kathryn Fogle, 4th Ward alderman, said, “We have to do this, especially for Dudley Park, where someone could build a couple of nice townhomes.”
For Kibler Park, which honors former alderman Joe Kibler, Fogle wants to be sure that his work is still memorialized in some way.
“Joe means something to me,” she said.
Craig agreed.
“Every park had a benefactor, so those things indeed have to be thoughtfully addressed.”