Next they started raising NRP funds from the participating neighborhoods for the park expansion and expanded programming. The Phelps Park Collaborative sought an agency to run the park, the Boys and Girls Club was selected. Funds were confirmed and the park expansion was built. The group is seeking additional funds to further expand the very active park building. Overall the relationship between the Phelps Park Collaborative and the MPRB has been productive, although ongoing issues and conflicts continue to arise which they are successfully working through.
Communication is the most important ingredient.
The MPRB determined in the 70's that the Whittier neighborhood had 15,000 residents with no access to park and recreation services. The MPRB engaged Whittier residents in identifying which block to acquire for developing the park. The building and park were designed and built with community input. In the early 90's Whittier was the first neighborhood that started doing an NRP plan. Residents had a priority of adding a gym to their park and then also to add a school and an early learning center.