Will you commit to developing parks and greenspaces in your Ward so that 100% of Clevelanders have access to a high-quality park within a 10-minute walk from their home? If yes, how would you do this?

According to The Trust for Public Land’s 2021 ParkScore(R) rankings, 83% of Clevelanders currently live within a 10-minute walk from a park. You can learn more about the 10 minute walk campaign and Cleveland’s overall ParkScore(R) at www.tpl.org/city/cleveland-ohio

Kate Warren: I believe that every resident should have access to a high quality park, and although Old Brooklyn is home to many high quality parks, the reality is that residents in some sections of my ward still do not live within walking distance of a high quality park. On City Council, I am committed to working toward this goal, and it is already in line with Old Brooklyn CDC’s Community Health priorities of creating equitable green space in the neighborhood. As parcels are collected and slated for development, I will advocate for and work to fund park projects that prioritize areas of the neighborhood that are lacking parks.

In your role as councilperson, would you commit to conducting an independent, third-party quality assessment of city parks during the first year in office? If yes, how will you measure equity while performing this assessment?

We define equity as “just and fair inclusion into a society in which all can participate, prosper, and reach their full potential. Unlocking the promise of the nation by unleashing the promise in us all.”

Kate Warren: I have been involved in the start of this work as part of the Community Health Committee in Old Brooklyn, which identified greenspace equity as a key concern for the neighborhood. Report here. I would be supportive of building on this work, especially as it pertains to developing solutions for improving existing parks, building new parks, and incorporating resident input into park development.

How would you specifically prioritize racial equity while investing in the Cleveland parks system?

Neighborhood parks support residents through improving physical and mental health outcomes, providing safe and welcoming spaces for recreation, promoting economic activity, and improving air quality.  Many residents, especially those who are predominately black and brown- do not have access to these benefits because of lack of or poor quality greenspaces in their neighborhoods.

Kate Warren: Ward 13 is lucky to have a wonderful asset in Brookside Reservation, which is adjacent to the census tracts in the neighborhood that have some of the highest percentages of residents of color in our neighborhood. On the other hand, some of the lowest income tracts in the ward, which also have higher concentrations of people of color, currently do not have parks within walking distance of them. I will work to ensure that these areas of our neighborhood have increased access to parks by looking for opportunities to develop new parks. I will work to engage with the community about what community members would like to see in new parks, and I will set a goal of engaging residents who are representative of the racial makeup of the area where park projects are being considered.

How would you ensure that parks and greenspaces are physically accessible for all Clevelanders?

Park amenities as well as paths and routes to the parks impact residents ability to use and enjoy our parks system. 

Kate Warren: I would advocate for universal design principles to be used in park and greenspace development. The reality is that accommodations that are designed to be physically accessible for people with physical disabilities also make good spaces for older adults, parents with small children, and many others. We should be prioritizing accessibility going forward to make sure that parks work for everyone.

How would you specifically ensure community input was a part of the planning, development, and improvement of parks and greenspaces in your Ward?

Kate Warren: I will work with local partners, including the Old Brooklyn CDC, Cleveland Metroparks, local schools, and local businesses to encourage community input and attendance at community meetings. I will also encourage residential areas around developments to be canvassed to collect input - many times, community meetings are attended by residents who are typically engaged in these processes, but people who will be living near parks should have an opportunity to provide input in a way that is very convenient to them.

How would you provide resources to residents so they can advocate and care for neighborhood parks through programming, maintenance, and ongoing stewardship?

It is vital that residents be empowered with the information and tools necessary to care for their local parks. For example, programs like Philadelphia’s Parks & Recreation Summer Youth Employment Program help create a pipeline of park advocates. 

Kate Warren: We have many residents who are actively engaged in caring for our local greenspaces, and I would look to strengthen and formalize those partnerships to engage more residents and do more good work in our local parks. I would be interested in supporting youth employment programs that would work to clean up and improve our parks, which also serves the dual purpose of providing meaningful employment for youth. I would also be interested in allocating some of the Council discretionary dollars toward resident-led park improvement projects.

Will you commit to partnering with relevant agencies to create a coordinated and transparent parks and greenspace master plan that prioritizes both neighborhood and destination parks? How would you go about this process?

Kate Warren: Yes, I am committed to working with key partners to create a master plan. I am also committed to building on work that has already been done in this area by Old Brooklyn CDC, CUDC, and others. Uniting these efforts and having a master plan to guide us as we make future investments will help us ensure that park development is not piecemeal, but rather, is strategic and community driven.

As a member of Council, would you commit to the creation of a standalone Parks & Recreation Department, with cabinet-level leadership and experienced staff? How would you ensure this department was adequately staffed and funded?

Currently the parks and recreation services must compete with several other citywide services within the Division of Public works.

Kate Warren: I wholeheartedly support the idea of a Parks and Recreation Department, and I believe such a department would be better equipped to develop spaces and programming that center the needs and wishes of residents. Initially, the department could be funded by transferring budget line items that already fund Parks and Recreation into their own department. It will take some research to determine how much funding would be sufficient for such a department to be successful, but that is an idea I would be interested in exploring with the Mayor’s administration.

How will you increase transparency around this funding process and ensure that funding is invested equitably?

Throughout our engagement with 100+ stakeholders, it was consistently mentioned that people lack clarity around the City of Cleveland’s parks investment process for park improvement and maintenance. This was even true amongst professionals who work on public space investment.

Kate Warren: I have heard this same concern as I’ve engaged with residents - capital improvements to parks seem to just happen, with little or no opportunity for engagement with residents. This is a missed opportunity, because if residents have input into what is in their parks, they are more likely to enjoy and care for them. I am dedicated to increasing transparency in every area where the City is spending tax dollars, including in the development of parks. I would be interested in collecting data on city spending on parks, including capital projects, around the city and creating a mechanism to share that data with the community. That could help inform future spending and programming, as well.