Funkhouser Shakes Up Park Board

Newly elected mayor Mark Funkhouser has appointed a new Kansas City park board. The members are John Fierro, Tyrone Aiken, Frances Semler, Aggie Stackhaus, and Ajamu Webster. Funkhouser "took a slap at the board for decades of 'elitism and community divisiveness'," further stating, "the commissioners have often been chosen from among the city's wealthiest." His focus for the board is to serve all people at all income levels. According to the article, the city spends $56 million a year on the Parks and Recreation Department but only 13 percent of residents visit the parks weekly and 32 percent do so rarely. The mayor recounts the history of the park and boulevard system and contends it was created for the elites and their property values.