Page 4 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, June 7, 2019 Residents focus on parks at city’s budget hearing R By Barbara Taormina oosevelt Field and Pine Banks Park were the two issues raised by residents this week during the City Council’s annual public hearing on the municipal budget. Residents Annie Oppedisano and Cathy Sullivan spoke against the proposal to install a synthetic turf field at Roosevelt Park next to Salemwood School. Although City Council President Jadeane Sica said that the Roosevelt Park restoration plan was part of the Community Preservation budget, not the city budget, she let both women present their views. “This underhanded way to use CPC [Community Preservation Committee] money to prepare the field for artificial turf is unconscionable,” said Oppedisano. Oppedisano focused on the potential injuries and health concerns associated with synthetic turf, particularly with the young students at Salemwood. She suggested that the money the city officials have talked about spending on organic fill as an alternative to traditional crumb rubber would be better used to install a natural grass field. “The CPC should not be used as a tool for fake grass,” she said. Sullivan, a teacher at SalemWe Carry... * 100% Waterproof LVT Flooring * Ceramic, Porcelain & Stone Tile * Hardwood Prefinished and Unfinished, Do-it-Yourselfer Products! Drop by our Showroom and check out our 250 styles of area rugs and other products! 31 Osprey Rd., Saugus * 781-289-9676 Contact@Russoflooring.com life∙style Your life. How you live it. Whatever you do, you could do it for less with our low rate! MASS BAY LIFESTYLE LOANS as low as 7.80% Easy! *APR=Annual Percentage Rate. Monthly principal and interest payment per $1,000.00 borrowed for 30 months at 7.80% APR is $36.80. Rates subject to change without notice. Loan amount up to $30,000. Other rates and terms available. Rate, term and approval amount based on credit worthiness. Terms and conditions apply. Qualification restrictions apply. APR* VACATIONS | WEDDINGS | BIKES | MORE Apply EASY online at massbaycu.org, call 617-269-2700 or just stop by. massbaycu.org (617) 269-2700 183 Main Street, Everett Federally insured by NCUA EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY wood who has been fighting against a synthetic turf field for several years, called the Roosevelt Park restoration plan halfbaked. “It’s not just about the kids, it’s also about me as a taxpayer,” said Sullivan, noting her tax dollars support the Community Preservation fund. Sullivan said that city officials who supported the $1.4 million CPC bond for Roosevelt Park renovations did not do their research. Although CPC money will not be spent on synthetic turf, preservation money will be used for other parts of the plan, which includes the installation of artificial grass. Sullivan criticized city officials for depending on one consultant who is involved in the synthetic turf industry. Earl Street resident Brian DeLacey raised another park issue that hasn’t received much attention or discussion but could ultimately affect plans for Roosevelt Park, which seem to be taking shape according to funding issues and constraints. DeLacey pointed out that this year’s proposed budget includes $429,288 for the city’s share of the cost of maintaining Pine Banks Park, a responsibility Malden shares with Melrose. “Malden has approximately 128 acres of parks and recreation space. Pine Banks is about one-fifth of Malden’s total, yet the city spends four times on Pine Banks what it spends on all other parks,” said DeLacey, adding that the annual Parks Department operating budget is about $105,000. DeLacey urged councillors to review the fees for rentals of the city’s park and fields. “I find these fees to be too low to support the sustained maintenance of Malden’s parks,” he said. DeLacey said Medford generally charges two to four times as much as Malden for comparable, residents’ use of fields. Medford also charges a premium for lighted fields, which has a direct and measurable cost to taxpayers. “Medford restricts generous, reduced ‘seasonal’ multi-use fees to youth leagues,” said DeLacey. “Malden, in contrast, extends deeply discounted season-long ‘below cost’ fees to adult groups and businesses.” DeLacey said the city’s public schools and the Recreation Department should have free access to the fields, but fees for other groups and organizations, including the Mystic Valley Regional Charter School, should be reviewed and increased. “I believe a concerted review of the fee schedules would generate additional, appropriate and much-needed revenue for the city’s maintenance of our recreational fields and parks,” he said. Cambridge Health Alliance and Farmer Dave’s offer fresh food C ommunity-supported agriculture makes eating locally easy For the eighth year in a row, Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA) is teaming up with Farmer Dave’s, a sustainable farm in Dracut, to bring locally grown, fresh fruits and vegetables to the communities of Malden and Cambridge with a Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) program. In the CSA program, consumers become shareholders of the farm for the season by paying for shares of the harvest upfront, and in return the consumers receive freshly harvested produce. The produce will be freshly harvested by Farmer Dave’s and ready for pick-up on Wednesday afternoons from 3-6:30 p.m. at the CHA Malden Care Center. Additionally, a pick-up is offered on Tuesday afternoons from 3-6 p.m. at CHA Cambridge Hospital. The program is offered for 41 weeks (early spring through late fall) in Malden and for 20 weeks (mid-June through late October) in Cambridge. Every week, CSA members receive shares of fresh vegetables and fruits grown at Farmer Dave’s. Vegetable shares are available in small and regular sizes to meet the produce needs of individuals to large families, vegetarians and omnivores. Every share includes generous portions of the season’s bounty, each in its due time, including summer favorites, such as tomatoes and corn, cooking staples like onions, carrots and potatoes, and chefs’ picks, such as chard, beets and other novelties. By committing to a local farmer, CSA members are supporting a small business and strengthening the local economy. Perhaps the most noticeable benefit is all the fresh produce CSA members get every week. The produce comes in a wide variety, ensuring that a range of colors and nutrients make it to the dinner table. Farmer Dave's is also a Healthy Incentives Program (HIP) retailer. HIP retailers match Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) purchases of fruits and vegetables when shopping at farmers’ markets, farm stands, mobile markets and CSA farm share programs, such as Farmer Dave’s. Using SNAP benefits at one of the participating HIP retailers lets clients earn additional dollars in SNAP benefits CAMBRIDGE | SEE PAGE 19
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