Parks proposal makes more sense as a regional idea

At the Kiwanis’ September meeting, Olympia City Councilman Jim Cooper presented on the city’s metropolitan parks district ballot proposal. He said that Olympia parks are $4 million behind in maintenance, they’re falling apart, and the city needs money so Percival Landing won’t fall into Budd Inlet.

An attendee asked Cooper why Olympia has opted to go it alone rather than work with Lacey and Tumwater to form a regional parks district. Cooper answered that Lacey’s and Tumwater’s parks would drag down Olympia’s parks system.

Has Councilman Cooper been to Lacey’s ballfields or Tumwater’s golf course? Unlike Olympia’s parks, they’re very well maintained. And neither is at risk of falling into Budd Inlet!

I would support a regional parks district that includes Lacey and Tumwater because then I’d know our parks would be properly maintained. But I’m voting against Olympia’s proposed metro parks district. I don’t trust Olympia to go it alone, and for good reason. They’ve broken their past promises and clearly failed to maintain our parks.

This story was originally published October 5, 2015 at 4:12 PM with the headline "Parks proposal makes more sense as a regional idea."