The June 3 ballot has a very important measure for all voters to consider that will have an impact on our parks and recreation services. Recreational activities provide pleasure for millions of people. They provide the opportunity for us to be physically active, which is an essential part of staying healthy and they provide that vital green space in a fast developing landscape.
As we are aware in Foster City, the proximity of parks to residential areas leads to increased value of private land. Leisure activities are an important component in improving moods and reducing stress as well as facilitating social interaction critical to maintaining community cohesion and pride. People go to their parks or participate in recreational activities to reinvigorate themselves.
We sometimes must take aggressive action to preserve our parks, seashore, and outdoor recreation opportunities which current and future generations will need for their leisure time. Voters in the San Mateo County are being asked to approve a 1/8th cent increase in the sales tax.
If approved, this Measure will provide long term financing to keep parks and recreation programs running in all our cities and County parks. Parks and recreation facilities and programs offer countless value to our citizens. From time to time it is useful to remind ourselves of the basic value of recreation and parks and reaffirm their essential worth.
As we all know, in a budget crisis, the first things to be cut or altered are recreation programs. Measure O-“Parks for the Future” will provide the help that cities and the County will need to insure that those services continue running for residents.
The funding will allow communities to improve the quality and maintenance of local parks, provide various recreational programs for all ages, and preserve thousands of acres of open space, shoreline, forests and wetlands.
A question being bantered around is: How can we prevent abuse of this funding, that is, can a city or the county decide to reduce their normal budget and take advantage of this new funding source earmarked for parks and recreation? The answer is No! There is a formula.
Each city and the county must establish a baseline budget for parks and recreation. Very simply put, if a parks & recreation budget is reduced in a given year, then the funding will be reduced by the difference between the established baseline budget and the new parks & recreation budget.
Again, Measure O would represent an extra $18 per year per household or less than $2 per month-a mere drop in the bucket for what this funding will ultimately provide. Measure O “Parks for the Future” is an investment in our communities. Foster City will get approximately $300,000 dollars per year to put towards parks and recreation projects and programs.
Parks and open spaces desperately need dedicated funding and a successful passage of Measure O will do just that. Our levee maintenance and renovation and the installation of synthetic sports fields, are just a few of the projects that can benefit from the passage of this Measure.
Creating the funding source in this way is the least intrusive and is fair for everyone. The funding will continue the quality recreational opportunities for all residents in all our communities and the County. As we live in trying times, our leisure services become more critical to our quality of life.
How nice to be able to escape from the normal daily routine and picnic in a local park or take a walk on a park path, ride a bike or just play at a park. Passage of Measure O will insure that these opportunities continue well into the future. The funds will help preserve natural open spaces, as well as expand a variety of recreational programs.
These types of activities are a vital part of keeping our kids off the streets and out of trouble. Indicative of what parks & recreation services are all about, I quote from a recent Foster City Parks & Recreation department flyer: “We strive to promote accessibility, environmental stewardship, personal and professional development, healthy and safe lifestyles, as well as fun and celebration”.
For this, I, as a resident of Foster City, urge you all to vote YES on Measure O “Parks for the Future” and keep our parks green and revitalized for the enjoyment of all ages today and in the years to come.
I welcome your comments on this and other issues: lkoelling@fostercity.org.
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