It has been publicly stated that the horses used by the Park Rangers of the Boston Park Department will be eliminated due to budget cuts. We respectfully oppose this action. The horses greatly improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the Park Rangers. The elimination of the Boston Park Department horses will adversely decrease public safety in the parks of the City of Boston.

* Eliminating the horses will dramatically reduce the ability of the Park Rangers to patrol the large park system especially the wooded areas where vehicles cannot go.
* Eliminating the horses will dramatically reduce the ability of the Park Rangers to patrol the large park system when there is a heavy snowfall.
* The horses are extremely vital for crowd safety control at parades and demonstrations.
* Rangers mounted on horses are six feet higher and can see over larger areas in urban crowds looking for lost children or in forests looking for lost hikers.
* Rangers mounted on horses can hear cries for help and assistance over large distances better then in patrol vehicles with engine noise and lower height.
* Rangers mounted on horses are an important friendly visible face of public safety assurance and assistance for both residents and tourists in the City of Boston.
* Horse mounted units cannot be easily reinstated because it takes years to train horses plus develop the trust between the individual ranger and individual horse.

We petition Mayor Thomas Menino, Boston City Council and Boston Parks Department Commissioner Antonia Pollak to keep the horses used by the Park Rangers to efficiently and effectively ensure the parks are safe for all the citizens of Boston and visitors from around the world.