THE CHALLENGES

The Byzantine story of the hurdles encountered by (FoBVP) is a fascinating study in a community's vision for a park renovation versus the red tape and the (sometimes surprising) roadblocks that can be encountered when ordinary citizens approach a civic improvement.

For the next six years the dedicated core of neighbors persevered, refusing to give up on the 600 children of BellaVistaElementary School, the residents of all ages and cultures in the neighborhood, or their vision of a real park.

The obstacles included a shift in city park construction oversight agencies, loss of the original Landscape Architect, discovery of 86 feet of park incorrectly deeded to the school district, the threatened loss of $1,150,000 in funding due to paperwork delays and a recession, lengthy contract/funder negotiations, a city union grievance filed against the project, and the wholesale pullout of the fundraiser from all city projects.

Throughout these challenges, FoBVP held closely to the practice of listening to all sides, and to the principle that all parties wanted to see the Park built.