Ulster County Citizen Park System Proposal

Preserving the beauty of our precious lands for
All Ulster County Citizens
to enjoy for generations to come - starting with
the capitol of our county, Kingston,
as a Model for the rest.

"Once it's gone, it's gone"
- Kirouana Paddaquahum

Mission:

To establish an Ulster County Citizens Park System (UCCPS): A membership based park system designed to save properties slated for private dwellings and commercial development which could better be utilized to generate wealth for the entire community both economically and culturally.

To protect the lands of Ulster County according to the will of its people in the truest democratic consensus.

To construct parks based on sustainability, which will provide community gardens and green markets. Most park lands will serve as venues for public functions such as arts and entertainment, sports and recreation, as well as special events for seniors and children. The UCCPS will also bring tourism and business to Ulster County generating enough income to secure the tax base and provide for public works.

To minimize the construction of all new structures. There are an abundance of unoccupied structures in disrepair that would employ a large number of local workers. This would revitalize already existing areas without unnecessarily building on unadulterated land. If the local governments could work to change our building codes to facilitate this way of thinking, people would know not to buy land in our county merely for speculation. Wealthy County Dutchess has enacted policy changes to preserve their lands. We the citizens of Ulster County can do the same by pooling our resources through the UCCPS to create a sustainable Ulster County Open Space and Parks Plan.

The Ulster County Open Space and Parks Plan has not been updated since 1972. We believe it should be. We also feel that the UCCPS would make an excellent key component of an updated UCOSPP.

Benefits:

Shared Economy: The establishment of a community based park system with an inclusive interaction with local businesses creates a shared economy, which cycles money within the locale and further strengthens the local economy. Since each park can only house a limited number of vendors each vendor will be selected through a democratic election - by the membership committee - to be placed into a lottery which will be conducted each year so as to avoid the potential of monopolies. This will insure quality, variety, and fairness in competition.

Creation of jobs: Each of the following items of the UCCPS vision will create jobs for Ulster County residents and students in each community where a park is established. Sustainable Agriculture: To reflect the will of the local majority for sustainable culture, some, or all, of the parks should include sustainable agriculture the products of which can be sold at the parks market. The parks will also serve as a retail outlet for local farmers who wish to sell their wares in the Citizen Park System. Surplus can be used for canning, drying, pickling etc. to be sold in the winter months at our variety store, which will sell UCCPS merchandize. Also, some surplus can be given to the needy.

Energy production: such as solar, wind and bio-diesel. The UCCPS could, for instance, grow its own grain and corn for bio-fuel, it can be processed in the park in an eco-intelligently designed structure, and can be pumped in the park and at local fuel stations.

Eco-intelligent Structures: The establishment of eco-intelligent structures within the UCCPS will be utilized to house markets, barns, energy production, historic sites, educational institutions, dwellings, etc.