Meet Alix O'Connell, Candidate For Dedham Parks And Recreation

A letter to the editor from Alix O'Connell, a candidate for the Dedham Parks and Recreation Commission:

Since I started my campaign, I have talked to hundreds of people from every neighborhood in Dedham. I hear, over and over, that residents want better-maintained fields, more access to passive recreation, and a voice in the future of Parks & Recreation. I hear that communication remains a challenge for this board and, most of all, they want a better understanding of how their tax dollars are being spent.

I want to fix that.

I admit my involvement with Parks & Recreation had a rocky start. I was a passionate advocate for a growing sport - lacrosse - trying to find places for local Dedham kids to play and practice. I felt the board was not responsive, and I lobbied hard to get field access expanded to include a wider range of sports in town. I didn’t see other options. In hindsight, I alienated some people and I regret that I was not able to find another resolution. The process taught me a lot about how to strengthen Parks and Recreation policies, how to improve the process for people with new ideas and gave me a lot of respect for how P & R Director Bob Stanley manages an under-resourced department.

Running for office? Supporting a certain candidate? Patch wants to know why you're running this year. Sign up for a free account or use our Neighbor Posts to share what issues matter to you. Or feel free to send a letter to the editor to jimmy.bentley@patch.com

If I am elected, I will fight to increase the P & R budget, so it is more in line with surrounding communities. I will work with Nobles and Northeastern to leverage their facilities and resources to help town fields. I will develop a field schedule that ensures well-maintained fields and access to all. I will review and update programming options. I will create relationships with departments like the DPW and School Department, to ensure we are all working together to help make Dedham’s parks, playgrounds, and fields a shining example of our incredible town. I will collaborate with the other Commissioners to implement the community vision that emerged from the P & R Master Plan and ensure our recreation plans include all town residents and interests, not just sports fields.

I have served as a Town Meeting member, volunteered with the Oakdale Square Alliance, Dedham Junior Women’s Club and Dedham Youth Lacrosse. I am an attorney with over a decade of experience advising municipal governments, including the City of Boston under Mayor Menino.

I respectfully ask for your vote on April 13th.
Thank you,
Alix O’Connell