Passing Prop. 1 would protect Olympia values

The people of Olympia have an important choice to make about who we are as a community on the November ballot with Proposition 1. It would create a Metropolitan Parks District to generate dedicated money for Olympia’s parks through assessments on property.

So why are parks important and why vote yes for Proposition 1? Parks are important because they are more than just pretty places, but reflections of our community’s values.

Our respect for the environment is reflected in the open green space in parks that provide habitat to wildlife and helps make our water clean. Our compassion for our children is reflected in the playgrounds that provide safe places where kids can be kids. Our appreciation of art is reflected in the sculptures and murals in parks. Our parks say a lot about what we value here in Olympia.

As our community continues to grow, 15,000 more people in the next 15 years, there will be increasing stress put on our parks. Coupled with existing and large deferred-maintenance needs our parks are in the position of being loved to death, unless we can find the resources for more parks space while maintaining our current parks. Proposition 1 provides these resources.

By voting for Proposition 1 our community will enrich and preserve our Olympian values that are our parks, for now and generations to come. (I am a member of the Olympia Parks and Recreation Advisory Council but this opinion is my own.)

This story was originally published September 18, 2015 at 8:38 AM with the headline "Passing Prop. 1 would protect Olympia values."