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REGULAR MEETING JUNE 13, 2016 Carol Schumaker, 1613 Hildreth Street South Bend 46615, spoke against the proposed firehouse. She stated she has called an ambulance and they arrived in a timely fashion and she has no problem with the Fire Department. However, the park is heavily used by the community in that area and many of the houses do not have large yards. These homes are middle and working class people who cannot afford houses with big yards. The park allows the people of River Park to have green space for their children. Childhood obesity is a huge problem in this country and access to parkland is the solution. When we lose parkland the people that suffer the most are low and middle income families. Rich Wallace, 937 South 21St South Bend 46615, spoke against the proposed firehouse. Potawatomi is a passive park which has value in and of itself. South Bend is underrepresented in green space and taking even more away doesn't make any sense. For children in the neighborhood that area is the main access to Kids Kingdom, the pool and the zoo. If the firehouse was built there it would be a concern for the students who go to John Adams because it is so congested. Bradley Laird, 1232 Longfellow Avenue South Bend 46615, spoke against the proposed firehouse. We want and need good Fire Department service and an ambulance based in the neighborhood but it is a profound failure of imagination to devalue our natural spaces. We can't and should not let go of our natural spaces because once we lose them they are gone for good. Every person that drives past that park sees open green space which has a positive effect on their wellbeing. This is a jewel in our community and we should protect it. Mr. Laird acknowledged the constraints that the state government has placed on local governments in the form of revenue. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Council, President Tim Scott adjourned the meeting at 8:13 p.m. 0