A Case Study: Losing Rice Field, Cornerstone of a community, est. 1909
The "done deal" was the plan to develop landmark Rice Field in spite of the fact that:
Before the "done deal" was announced, community leaders became aware of the wishes of the residents of Beaverdale by a scientific survey taken, which substantiated the desire of 75% of residents to retain Rice Field as an enhanced park for the community.
Nevertheless, the campaign began with the mantra spreading community-wide, "You know Rice Field is going to be developed; you want the right people to do it." (aka Tom Boesen's LLC: Rice Partners)
Friends of Rice Field invite you to visit this website. It documents repeated attempts to exploit the Beaverdale neighborhood by well-connected developers seeking to reap huge profits out of a rare and vital recreational space at the heart of the neighborhood.
It is now apparent that early on, the non-profit neighborhood association--the voice of the residents before City boards and Public School boards--was co-opted to push development. See tab "Burden Falls on Des Moines Neighbors".
We also document the importance of preserving Rice Field as a park to enhance the quality of urban life in this small section of the northwest quadrant of Des Moines.
Ultimately, it is our elected civil servants who are accountable for the injustice that takes place against the majority will of the community. See tab "The Buck Stops at Coleman" .
- the 1-cent sales tax had passed as a "referendum" to protect the neighborhood public school
- the field had been dedicated as a park by the Des Moines Public Schools
- furthermore, DMPS and the City of Des Moines, through a written lease agreement had designated Rice Field as a park
- substantial expenditure of taxpayer funds were spent to landscape the park as an athletic/recreational field.
Before the "done deal" was announced, community leaders became aware of the wishes of the residents of Beaverdale by a scientific survey taken, which substantiated the desire of 75% of residents to retain Rice Field as an enhanced park for the community.
Nevertheless, the campaign began with the mantra spreading community-wide, "You know Rice Field is going to be developed; you want the right people to do it." (aka Tom Boesen's LLC: Rice Partners)
Friends of Rice Field invite you to visit this website. It documents repeated attempts to exploit the Beaverdale neighborhood by well-connected developers seeking to reap huge profits out of a rare and vital recreational space at the heart of the neighborhood.
It is now apparent that early on, the non-profit neighborhood association--the voice of the residents before City boards and Public School boards--was co-opted to push development. See tab "Burden Falls on Des Moines Neighbors".
We also document the importance of preserving Rice Field as a park to enhance the quality of urban life in this small section of the northwest quadrant of Des Moines.
Ultimately, it is our elected civil servants who are accountable for the injustice that takes place against the majority will of the community. See tab "The Buck Stops at Coleman" .
An Obvious Asset
"From coast to coast -- and everywhere in between -- urban parks are gaining tremendously in importance and public attention. With many people's economic problems, near is the new far. And in the parks world, that means accessible, high-quality urban parks for everyone. Rice Field appears to be a once-in-a-generation opportunity for the residents of northwest Des Moines to get high-quality parkland for all the many benefits that it will provide the community."
--- Peter Harnik
Director, Center for City Park Excellence
Trust for Public Land
Washington, D.C. 20003
202-543-7552
--- Peter Harnik
Director, Center for City Park Excellence
Trust for Public Land
Washington, D.C. 20003
202-543-7552