For 15 years Christine Poff led the Franklin Park Coalition and started the Boston Park Advocates to helping bring attention to the city's open spaces. So it is very fitting that she was selected to be the director of the Community Preservation Committee.
Chris Helms
File photo: Christine Poff, right, enjoys Franklin Park with a Franklin Park Coalition board member.
The newly established committee will lead Boston's use of funds provided by the Community Preservation Act (CPA). Last November Boston voters approved the adoption of Massachusetts CPS, which will generate millions of dollars to be used for the creation and acquisition of affordable housing, historic preservation, open space and recreation.
“I am incredibly pleased to welcome Christine to this new role as director of the Community Preservation Committee, which will have an important role in ensuring that the funding captured through the CPA is re-invested in our communities,” said Mayor Martin Walsh via press release. “Christine is someone who for many years has been actively involved with organizations that improve the communities around them, and I look forward to continuing that work with her in this new capacity.”
Walsh and the Boston City Council are working together to form the Community Preservation Committee (CPC) to study community preservation needs and make recommendations on how funds should be used, such as something like renovating Franklin Park's baseball diamonds, paths or tennis courts. The funding of any project requires a recommendation from the committee.
Poff is responsible for managing all aspects of the CPA program, including coordinating the application process for granting CPA funds, managing the CPA budget and CPA grants.
"I'm so honored to be at the helm of Boston's new Community Preservation Program,” said Poff via press release. “When I think about this city I love, it's the three CPA components that feel most vital going forward: affordable housing - a basic human right; greenspace that enhances quality of life for everyone; and historic preservation to maintain our neighborhood gems. I can't wait to work with Mayor Walsh and his team, the City Council, and community members across Boston to make our city the best it can be."
Previously Poff served as political director of the National Association of Social Workers, where she advocated for economic and social justice bills at the Massachusetts State House. She is also well-known for her nearly 15 years as executive director of the Franklin Park Coalition. During her time leading the Franklin Park Coalition she worked to bring back beloved park institutions including the Elma Lewis Playhouse, the FPC Youth Crew and the annual Kite and Bike Festival.
Poff is a 25-year resident of Jamaica Plain, where she resides with her two sons, who graduated from Boston Public Schools.