• The Audubon Commission calls for public input into a "Master Plan" for Audubon Park; meeting date is January 13, 2003 at 7:00pm at the Audubon Tea Room.
• 2002 "Bogeys and Birdies" Awards.
• Financial "fact" or "fiction".
• Next Audubon Commission meeting is January 22, 2003 at 4:00 p.m., at the Audubon Nature Institute offices at 6500 Magazine St.

AUDUBON PARK MASTER PLAN

Well, it has taken almost 30 years, but the Audubon Commission is finally agreeing to develop a Master Plan for Audubon Park; they have announced the first of several public meetings to gather public input on Monday, January 13th, at 7:00 p.m. at the Audubon Tea Room.

Under the direction of the Audubon Nature Institute, since 2001 the Audubon Commission has shut out the public from participating in the sweeping changes they have made in the park, especially to the more than 30% of the land use that the golf course and the "clubhouse" constitute. Having accomplished these changes for their special interest clients, the Audubon Commission now seeks to wrap itself in the cloak of good government by soliciting public input for what will in reality be a "fraction-of-a master plan," wherein we are allowed to comment on the remaining crumbs of the park, and unwittingly grant legitimacy to their assaults on the public interest in the past two years.

However, important issues remain that can yet have a positive impact on Audubon Park. We strongly urge all park-users, neighbors and residents to attend this meeting to reinforce to the Audubon Commission and Audubon Institute the fact that the public DOES have the right to impact what transpires in Audubon Park, and that this new Master Plan should conform to the city's own Master Plan with respect both to the manner of development of the plan, and of its role as a bona fide 'concept plan' not subject to ad-hoc alteration.

Rather than being developed in-house by Audubon's "staff and consultants" with pre-conceived notions and carte-blanche to accept or ignore whatever public input they choose, this Master Plan should be developed in keeping with the appropriate guidelines for public participation so that a wide range of perspectives on what is needed for Audubon Park will shape the entire plan, not just the less-important details. Only then will it reflect a wide range of public perspectives and priorities and not be dominated by the financial imperatives of the Audubon Institute itself.

Read more about SaveAudubonPark's Master Plan platform at www.saveaudubonpark.org/p4081.htm

2002 "BOGEYS AND BIRDIES" AWARDS

SaveAudubonPark announces its 2002 Birdie Awards, summarizing the good, the bad, and the indifferent in developments in Audubon Park, at www.saveaudubonpark.org

FACT OR FICTION? YOU DECIDE...

Separating "fact" from "fiction" on Audubon's oft-repeated claim that they operate without receiving substantial public funding.

Read more at www.saveaudubonpark.org/p4082.htm

INTERESTED IN JOINING US?

If you would like to become a member of SaveAudubonPark, please let us know. Better yet, join us for pizza on Monday night after the public meeting on the Master Plan, at Reginelli's Pizza, corner of Magazine and State Streets.

The purpose of building a membership is to have some numbers that demonstrate the concern in the community for open and responsive management of Audubon Park. While membership is not a fundraising tactic, if you would like to make a contribution to our cause to help with costs, please feel free. We're a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, so checks can be made payable to "SaveAudubonPark".

For those who have already contributed money to SaveAudubonPark, please let us know if you would like to be enrolled as a member.

Besides our bumper sticker and button, membership entitles you to a vote at SaveAudubonPark's annual member's meeting - the next one will be in January 2004.