December 24, 2003

Ms. Patricia Kish, Director

Project Planning Design and Development

Department of State Parks and Recreation

251 Causeway Street, Suite 600

Boston MA 02114-2104

Dear Ms. Kish:

I have received from Chairman Patrick Markey, chairman of the Springfield Library Commission, a copy of your letter of December 11, 2003 to Mr. David A. Shrair regarding the request of the Springfield Museum Association to close the gates to the fence surrounding the Quadrangle.

Mr. Markey, Emily Bader, administrator of the Springfield Library Department, and I are in complete agreement with the DCR's position on this matter.  Like you, all of us have heard from neighbors of the Quadrangle as well as from library users from all parts of our City that closing off access to this public space is an serious and unwarranted inconvenience to the taxpayers whose resources have for many years supported this greenspace and the institutions which surround it.  Access is a particular problem for handicapped visitors to the central library and the Dr. Seuss display since handicap parking for both is further away than is either practical or legal.

We hope that your office will move aggressively to see that the Springfield Museum Association restores public access to the Quadrangle as outlined in the DCR letter dated December 4, 2002 authorizing installation of the security fence and approving the hours of access.  All of us stand ready to support your efforts in any way.  Please do not hesitate to contact us if we may be of assistance.

We are very grateful to you for having added your powerful voice to the chorus calling for maximum public access to the Quadrangle.

Sincerely yours,

Charles V. Ryan, Mayor-elect

cc:        Patrick Markey

            Emily Bader

            Kathleen Breck

            Joseph Carvalho III

            Steve Shultis

            David Shrair

            Bishop Gordon Scruton