The atrium of the Fall River Government Center filled with people interested in improving and protecting Fall River's green spaces by forming an Urban Parks Advocates Network in the City on October 22, 2009. The Trustees of Reservations have a long-standing presence in the area, with offices in Fall River and Westport , and conservation properties in both communities. Andrea Freeman, Director of the Putnam Conservation Institute of the Trustees of Reservations introduced the concept of the Urban Parks Advocates Network and answered  questions regarding the Network. The Trustees define parks broadly, including traditional parks, playgrounds, schoolyards, recreational fields, picnic sites, pocket parks, walking and biking trails, community gardens and more. Click here for the Herald News article about the event. For more information about the Urban Parks Network can sign-ups at any time by contacting Mass In Motion coordinator Julianne Kelly at 508-324-2405.

(Top row, left) Brian Curt talks about how he sees the condition of Fall River's parks as others including Linda Hennessey, right, listen. (Top row, center) Andrea Freeman, program director for the Trustees of Reservations, welcomes the group before describing the goals of the Urban Parks Advocates Network. (Top row, right) Fall River park commissioner Glen Hathaway gives his perspective as city councilor Steve Camara listens. (Middle row, left) Director of parks and cemeteries Nancy Smith talks about ongoing problems of vandalism in the City's parks. (Middle row, right) Andrea Freeman and Mass In Motion coordinator Julianne Kelly listen to concerns and ideas from the group. (Bottom row, left) Richard Urban and David Lapointe of the Father Kelly Neighborhood Association talk about the potential development of the Cook Pond area as a city park. (Bottom row, center) Evette Mancini and Trustees of Reservations education director Linton Harrington listen as Lorraine Sherry makes a point. (Bottom row, right) Andrea suggests that advocates explore some of the ideas in the book Starfish and the Spider: The unstoppable power of leaderless organizations.