11.4.2026 Park Board

The Fall River Board of Park Commissioners met on November 4, 2026, and approved multiple community requests, park use permits, and tree removals. Following the approval of the October meeting minutes, the board approved a request from Greater Fall River Recreation for the use of Kennedy Park on December 5 for the 42nd Annual Children's Christmas Day Parade. The board also granted Jerry Donovan permission to remove five trees along Purchase Street that were causing damage to an abutting asphalt parking lot, with the stipulation that they be replaced with appropriate species whose root systems grow downward.

Additional approvals included a request from the Brick Committee to install commemorative bricks in a new section behind the Iwo Jima monument at Veterans Memorial Park, and a request from Susan Hunt to film at the Lizzie Borden gravesite in Oak Grove Cemetery using a mobile phone during normal cemetery hours. The board also engaged in an extensive discussion initiated by Commissioner John Sylvia regarding municipal tree removal ordinances (City Ordinance 54-146 and 54-152). Sylvia advocated for modernizing city tree replacement standards to an 'inch-for-inch' replacement policy with guidance from the city's contracted arborist before placing the matter on file for future ordinance drafting.

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