FRIENDS OF JAMAICA POND 36 Perkins St., PO Box 300040, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130-0030 Gerry Wright, Founder and President Telephone: 617-524-7070 Email: FrederickLawOlmsted@yahoo.com TTY/MA RELAY 800-439-2370 www.FriendsOfJamaicaPond.org

Friends of Jamaica Pond History and Annual Park Keeper Award Frederick Law Olmsted a one-man play by Gerry Wright Nature's Class Room: Environmental Education Projects Environmental Research Projects Forestry Protection Projects Emerald Necklace Bird Club Volunteer Stewardship Program Calendar and Meetings and Press Memberships and Donations Links and Resources Contact and Email Info

"Let it be not for present use and delight alone, but let it be of such a work that our descendents will thank us for it." Frederick Law Olmsted

Nature's Class Room: Environmental Education Projects Jamaica Pond's Albino Gray Squirrel Great Horned Owls Red Tailed Hawks Butterflies and Dragonflies Emerald Necklace Wildflowers Pink Lady's Slipper Great Blue Herons Emerald Necklace Fungi (Coming Soon)

Thanks! Due to vocal public support, private fundraising and successful negotiations with the Park Commissioner over staffing issues the mounted unit was saved in 2009.  Ongoing lack of funds for the Boston Park Department, which is less then one percent of the city budget for one of the largest city park systems in the country, will likely mean this issue will be repeated in future years. Join our action alert email and snail mail lists to stay informed. As expected the issue resurfaced in 2010 inspite of the private funding.  The horse unit faced elimination on June 30, 2010.  An extension to October was announced in July 9, 2010 Jamaica Plain Gazette article (http://jamaicaplaingazette.com/node/4236). A non profit group was formed in 2010 to raise on-going private funds to save the horses. Please join their efforts to save the Boston Park Rangers Mounted Unit. Learn about The Friends of the Boston Park Rangers Mounted Unit, the rangers, the horses, and how you can help at http://savebostonshorses.org/ Boston Park Rangers' Horses It has been publicly stated that the horses used by the Park Rangers of the Boston Park Department will be eliminated due to budget cuts.  We respectfully oppose this action.  The horses greatly improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the Park Rangers.  The elimination of the Boston Park Department horses will adversely decrease public safety in the parks of the City of Boston. Eliminating the horses will dramatically reduce the ability of the Park Rangers to patrol the large park system especially the wooded areas where vehicles cannot go. Eliminating the horses will dramatically reduce the ability of the Park Rangers to patrol the large park system when there is a heavy snowfall. The horses are extremely vital for crowd safety control at parades and demonstrations. Rangers mounted on horses are six feet higher and can see over larger areas in urban crowds looking for lost children or in forests looking for lost hikers. Rangers mounted on horses can hear cries for help and assistance over large distances better then in patrol vehicles with engine noise and lower height. Rangers mounted on horses are an important friendly visible face of public safety assurance and assistance for both residents and tourists in the City of Boston. Horse mounted units cannot be easily reinstated because it takes years to train horses plus develop the trust between the individual ranger and individual horse. We petition Mayor Thomas Menino, Boston City Council and Boston Parks Department Commissioner Antonia Pollak to keep the horses used by the Park Rangers to efficiently and effectively ensure the parks are safe for all the citizens of Boston and visitors from around the world. Sign the Petition on line at: http://www.petitiononline.com/BPHorses/petition.html Printer Version of Petition (Click on Image for PDF file)

Contact and Email Information

FRIENDS OF JAMAICA POND 36 Perkins St., PO Box 300040, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130-0030 Gerry Wright, Founder and President Telephone: 617-524-7070 Email: FrederickLawOlmsted@yahoo.com TTY/MA RELAY 800-439-2370 www.FriendsOfJamaicaPond.org