Former Commissioner Blasts Worcester for Current Condition of Public Parks

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Friday, May 22, 2015

GoLocalWorcester News Team

Former Worcester Parks Commissioner Thomas Taylor took to social media this week and blasted the city for its lack of “respect” towards Worcester’s parks.

Taylor, who worked as Parks Commissioner for 21 years from 1976 to 1997 said that he believed the parks are in the condition they are in because the city eliminated his position and put the parks under the direction of the Commissioner of Public Works.

SEE BELOW: Full Statements By Taylor on State of Worcester’s Parks

“The parks lost the status of being a full fledged city department and independence,” Taylor wrote. “The parks lost the respect of city government and the importance of overall city operations on the same level as other...Departments and its professionalism. “

Prior to becoming the city’s Parks Commissioner, Taylor was the Director of Parks and Recreation in Waltham. He studied Recreation Administration and Recreation, Parks and Facility Management at UMass Amherst.

According to Taylor, the city needs someone with a parks and recreation background to clean-up the city’s parks.

“No disrespect to the DPW Commissioner, but he did not train, get educated in the Parks Profession via a college degree and put the parks under a top priority. He has staffing under him, but he does not have the status and clout as a department head has. The City thinks they are saving money in administrative costs, but it is a penny wise and pound foolish way of doing business as the state of the parks are now in,” Taylor said.

The current DPW&P Commissioner is Paul Moosey who took over for Robert Moylan last year. Moylan served as DPW Commissioner for 20 years and was recently named to the Board of Directors of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation.

Taylor went on to say that City Manager Ed Augustus is having trouble communicating his plans for Worcester’s parks because the city lacks a Parks Commissioner. Taylor said the parks shouldn’t have to be something that Augustus deals with “on a personal basis” and the problems of park issues are due to a lack of communication and poor planning.

While Parks Commissioner, Taylor won the Thomas S. Green Public Service Award in 1991 from the Worcester Research Bureau. In 1985, Taylor received the Peter C. O’Brien Humanitarian Award from the Massachusetts Recreation and Park Association.

“This is the first time I've spoken out on this issue, as I felt the elimination of the position of Parks Commissioner was a slap in my face after 21 years of dedicated service, long hours, bringing the parks to national recognition,and getting the numerous members of the community involved in the park system, and are still involved to the present day.”

Full statements from Taylor:

Tuesday 5/19 - “This is the advertisement for the newly created position of Parks Commissioner for the City of Worcester by then City Manager Francis J. McGrath, the most well known administrator the city has ever had.He must have know something. I applied and was fortunate to get the position, and worked diligently for 21 years for the city as parks commissioner.In my opinion,and mine only,the parks are in this state now ever since they eliminated the position of Parks Commissioner and put the department under the jurisdiction of the Commissioner of DPW.The Parks lost the status of being a full fledged city department and independence.The parks lost the respect of city government and the importance of overall city operations on the same level as other now Departments and its professionalism. No disrespect to the DPW Commissioner, but he did not train,get educated in the Parks Profession via a college degree and put the parks under a top priority.He has staffing under him,but he does not have the status and clout as a department head has. The City thinks they are saving money in administrative costs,but it is a penny wise and pound foolish way of doing business as the state of the parks are now in.The Commissioner would deal with the City Manager on a department head basis,not on a secondary level as it is now.This is the first time I've spoken out on this issue, as I felt the elimination of the position of Parks Commissioner was a slap in my face after 21 years of dedicated service,long hours,bringing the parks to national recognition,and getting the numerous members of the community involved in the park system,and are still involved to the present day.This the reason why the City Manager is having all these problems on park issues with lack of communication ,poor planning, and a spokesperson on the Department head level. He shouldn't have to deal with these issues on a personal basis.”

Wednesday 5/20 - “After reading all the orders regarding the maintenance of parks and the deterioration of its facilities ,I just want to express my opinion which I have a few of. First.When the city eliminated the parks department as a full fledged city department and put it under the DPW ,it downgraded the importance of the parks in the overall scheme of city government and is why the parks are in the condition they are now.They don't have a spokesperson on the level of other city department heads that deal directly with the City Manager or have the respect of the City Council or even the general public.You can see this now when the City Manager has to act as the Park Commissioner in dealing with the Newton Hill situation and the Chandler Magnet School parking.The city should restore the parks department to full department status and operate independently under the jurisdiction of the City Manger.If analyzed properly it is not a cost savings.The parks is the largest asset the city has,and should be treated as such.Worcester is the second largest City in New England and should be ashamed of itself in regard to its park system.It used to have National prominence and won many awards.Someone in government should be taking a good look as well as the general public.All the park advocates out there should make their voices heard loud and clear regarding this.Maybe a super advocate group should be formed to meet on a regular basis to become influential and powerful on park issues.The parks have to become a priority in City Government.”

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