While our special series of articles focused on Patterson Park, there is little reason that the concept of special benefits districts could not help fund parks throughout Baltimore City.  All the data cited in those articles indicates that a special benefits district structure can succeed, can add needed funds to meager parks department budgets and is supported by the public.  If the Patterson Park special benefits district proves successful, the city should use such a model throughout Baltimore’s park system.

For instance, the Recreation and Parks Department divides its parks into six regional districts for the purposes of management and maintenance.    If a special benefits district is successful at Patterson Park, special benefits district can be expanded to the different park districts throughout the city.  This would allow the Recreation and Parks Department to demonstrate success on a smaller scale and then expand on that success.

Setting up city-wide parks districts has a lot of advantages.  First, the special benefits district structure in Baltimore has a re-authorization process that requires demonstrated success to continue.  Setting up a series of metrics that Recreation and Parks must meet to demonstrate that success and to continue to receive funding creates accountability.  If money is not spent wisely, the park system is not improving or park property is not maintained appropriately, the special benefits district is abolished.  With that comes a significant loss of revenue – something Recreation and Parks definitely does not want.   Second, a special benefits district can allow for greater transparency.  If these special benefits districts are funding the Recreation and Parks Department budgets to a large degree, citizens can demand a voice and information.  This can be done in a variety of different ways such as requiring annual park district meetings, by creating a park district board or boards or by required reporting by the Recreation and Parks Department.  Lastly, city-wide special benefits districts can give Recreation and Parks the funding it needs to be a better park system.  Right now, funding is extremely low and the park systems feels the strain.  Creating a city-wide system of special benefits districts for parks would move funding towards a more appropriate level and provide the tools needed to improve the park system in meaningful ways.