City Survey: Police, Firefighters Trump Rec Centers

Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake’s office released the results of a survey Wednesday calling into question the importance of recreation centers and youth programs to Baltimore residents.

According to the survey, only 2.5 percent of residents said recreation, culture and parks are the most important services funded in the city’s budget.

By contrast 26 percent of residents said the police department was the most important city service paid for by the city, followed by 19 percent who said fire and emergency medical services were the most important.

The survey results were made public the day a Baltimore City Council subcommittee is scheduled to hold a hearing regarding the city’s plans for privatizing and closing many of its recreation centers.

The telephone survey was conducted by the Schaefer Center for Public Policy at the University of Baltimore with Baltimore City government. The survey included 1,786 city residents at least 18-years-old between April 1 and June 8.