Rep. Fiola’s Olmsted Park Improvement Fund bill passes through House

Boston, MA (February 24, 2016) – State Representative Carole Fiola, of the Sixth Bristol District, saw her bill (h.4023, An Act establishing the Olmsted Park improvement fund) pass through the House of Representatives to be engrossed unanimously (153-0) during formal session on Wednesday. The bill seeks to establish a fund that will accept both public and private donations that will be administered by the Department of Conservation and Recreation. Cities and towns throughout the commonwealth that have an Olmsted Park within their municipal boundaries would, under the bill, have the ability to apply in writing for a grant for state assistance to rehabilitate or improve their Olmsted Park.

 

An Olmsted Park is a park that was designed by the famed architectural firm headed by Frederick Law Olmsted; the city of Fall River has three such parks (North Park, Ruggles Park, and Kennedy Park) within its borders. Records indicate there are 41 such Olmsted Parks in Massachusetts.

 

“I want to thank Speaker DeLeo for moving this bill forward and demonstrating the value we all hold for these precious natural resources,” stated Fiola. “I would especially like to thank my colleague and Chair of the Committee on Environment, Natural Resources, and Agriculture Paul Schmid for shepherding this bill through his committee and hosting a public hearing on it this past summer in Westport. Passing any bill is a process that requires much planning, foresight, and follow-up, and I would like to thank my colleagues again, along with the many constituents and advocates who attended the hearing and testified on its behalf.

 

“This bill will allow some of the most treasured open spaces in Massachusetts to receive the proper stewardship, improvements, and attention they deserve,” continued Fiola. “Frederick Law Olmsted designed Central Park in New York City, and we are graced with three of his magnificent parks right here in Fall River. We should look forward to an increased ability to preserve them for the enjoyment of generations to come.”

 

Representative Fiola can be contacted by phone at 617-722-2460, by email at [email protected], or via the Web at www.electcarole.com or www.facebook.com/electcarole.