A big thank you to the Friends of Richfield Heritage Preserve 

To the Editor, 

I have worked on many community projects as a Richfield Village Council member and Revere parent. During that time, I think the most organized, knowledgeable, and committed organization I have seen is the Friends of Richfield Heritage Preserve (FoRHP). 

I frequently hike at Richfield Heritage Preserve (the “Park”) and without fail, I run into FoRHP volunteers working or helping in some capacity. They have helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars to improve the park, and they have spent thousands of hours volunteering for the benefit of the park. 

I feel that some members of the RJRD board have not always appreciated the FoRHP, and I have tried to understand the apparent conflict for years. It seems FoRHP’s passion is sometimes interpreted as a desire to control the direction of the park, and the RJRD board’s desire to introduce processes, accountability, and planning is interpreted as disrespect. I suspect it is more complicated than that, but I would encourage both the RJRD board and FoRHP to take a step back, acknowledge each other’s roles, responsibilities and limitations, and capitalize on one another’s strengths. If both organizations could figure out how to pull in the same direction, the results could be more extraordinary! 

If you have not seen the restoration work done on Kirby Mill, Amity House, and Garfield Hall, it is nothing short of incredible. If you have not attended a FoRHP event/hike, you are missing out. Thank you FoRHP for your passion and ongoing support of the park! Barbara Lanford 
Logwood Trail