Seven of the 10 contenders for seats on the Rapid City Council fielded questions about parks and told an audience in the Dahl Cyclorama last week why they wanted the job. Moderator Terry Mayes kept the conversation at a fast-moving pace, insuring that candidates never knew who was going to start the next round, adding fun and informality to the … Read More
Candidates praise parks, criticize how opponents manage them
In a sometimes intense and acrimonious exchange of views over issues as varied as low income housing, government accountability, and city infrastructure, candidates for mayor and city council took the opportunity to talk about Rapid City’s parks, including the potential for including requirements for park land and open space in a new comprehensive plan that will guide the city’s growth. … Read More
Questions Submitted to Candidates by Friends of Rapid City Parks
Studies have shown that parkland increases values for adjacent property by 20 percent. Even more studies have shown that people will trade off income for quality of life, and that open space is the number one consideration for small, hi-tech companies looking to relocate. At a public forum last year, a panel of local and national experts on parks and … Read More
Go out and play!
Not every student is able to participate in school sports programs, but studies tell us that outdoor play and exercise help not only with physical health, but creativity, teamwork, and other skills. This is an argument made in support of team sports. But not all students get picked for organized sports, or even want to try out for teams. How … Read More
What value, green space?
Studies have shown that parks and open space increase values for adjacent property by 20 percent. Open space is the number one consideration for small, hi-tech companies looking to relocate, because their highly educated work force is willing to sacrifice high income for high quality of life. Can Rapid City tap the economic growth potential of its parks and open … Read More
2013 Candidate Forum May 30 at The Journey Museum
Friends of Rapid City Parks, in conjunction with Democracy in Action, will hold a forum for candidates seeking office in the upcoming school and municipal election on June 4. The forum will take place on Thursday, May 30, 2013, at The Journey Museum’s theater, beginning at 6:30 p.m. The Journey Museum is located at 222 New York Street in Rapid … Read More
Let’s put some vision back into the Vision Fund process
Have you ever waited in line and put up with people who cut in front of you? Annoying, isn’t it? What if the line was an opportunity to queue up and make the case for your favorite sport, or most creative idea, or a chance to do something for the entire community? And someone cut in ahead. And foreclosed not … Read More
Why do Friends care about billboards?
Fully one third of our municipal parks lie in the towering shadow or flickering lights of a billboard. From swings and sliding boards, from gazebos and flower gardens, the view exhorts us to eat, drink, buy, sell, visit and vote. Friends of Rapid City Parks thinks the view within a municipal park should be framed by trees, clouds and the … Read More
Candidate Forum Time Rolls Around Again
Friends of Rapid City Parks will host two candidate forums this year in order to provide ample time for both city council and mayoral candidates to present their views and answer questions. The 2011 city council candidate forum will begin at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 31 at the Dahl Arts Center. A second event to showcase candidates for Mayor will … Read More
Annual Candidate Forum Next Week
Friends of Rapid City Parks will host its 2010 city council candidate forum at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 3 at the Dahl Arts Center. The annual public forums provide park advocates an opportunity to ask candidates about their views on parks, environment, and preservation of the green ribbon along Rapid Creek. This year 15 candidates are competing for 2-year terms … Read More