Opinion: Dedham Resident Supports Alix O'Connell For Parks

The following is a letter to the editor from resident Tom Healy in support of Alix O'Connell for the Parks & Recreation Commission. The Dedham town election is Saturday, April 13.

True story about Alix O’Connell, a few weeks ago while walking the track at Dedham High, I had the opportunity to talk with Alix. We didn’t talk about the basic Parks and Rec programs, we talked about new ideas and possibilities. I would like to share parts of our conversation.

1. Increasing the passive recreation areas at different locations throughout the town. One example, would be to create walking areas around existing parks and fields.
2. After the sports seasons end, develop programs to get teens back out to the parks before school starts in September
3. A teen night or recreation spot with ping pong, movies and board games, this type of insight would get teens to be more active and creative. I’m sure there isn’t one parent that wishes Xbox and Nintendo weren’t invented and that their kids weren’t always on their cell phone.

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Lastly, as a Dedham resident for over thirty years and having coached baseball, soccer, softball and basketball at all recreational levels for my three children, I know what we need in a Parks and Recreation Commissioner and I politely ask for your vote for Alix O’Connell on April 13th.