Some business, some politics, and some fun in the snow with the FPC

Here at FPC we've been worried about runners training in the cold, on icy roads. Glad to see all of our Super Heroes doing fine and making light of it all!

Lots of city park political activities last week. We organized a thank you party for outgoing Parks Commissioner, Toni Pollak. With an 11-year tenure she was the longest running commissioner in Boston's history, kind of amazing. The Copley Plaza donated a party room and more than 200 people came! It was more of a downtown crowd than we are used to out here in Roxbury-Dorchester-JP.

L to R: Julie Crockford, Emerald Necklace Conservancy; Liz Vizza, Friends of the Public Garden; Toni Pollak, Commissioner; yours truly from FPC; and Valerie Burns, Boston Natural Areas Network.

The next day the Environment, Energy & Open Space transition team presented its recommendations to the new Mayor and his policy staff. He responded at first with the comment, Everywhere I went on the campaign trail last summer and fall, the environment and the arts were the two most frequently raised issues." Mayor Walsh has asked every department to cut 1% of their budget to balance city finances in the coming year, but Parks will not be cut - this is a HUGE win. For the first time in my tenure at FPC parks are a priority!

Two transition team members with our new Mayor

After all the downtown activity, I was back in the park on Friday with my favorite Trotter elementary school class. We looked at winter trees, found places where animals might hibernate, hunted for food that winter birds might eat, and learned how some birds are able to withstand the cold and don't migrate. The excitement and learning that takes place with these 2nd graders is contagious. They are a treat to be with in the outdoors. They love it!