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| | | This will be my second article regarding Foster City’s parks system and the reason I decided to write about our parks is to emphasize the fact as to how fortunate we all are. We recently witnessed a County ballot measure fail that would have added a half cent to the sales tax for maintaining parks throughout the County.
I look at city parks throughout San Mateo County and I am saddened to see much deferred maintenance and in some cases, neglect. Then I look at Foster City’s parks and I am amazed to see the embodiment of what parks once looked like and what parks should look like.
Parks & Recreation Director Kevin Miller, his staff and the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee are, I believe, the gatekeepers for everything wonderful our parks represent. They are the stewards who work tirelessly to keep our parks truly special. Kevin recently gave me a periodical to read published by the National Recreation and Park Association. It was titled “Advocacy Update: Top Ten Reasons Parks are Important.”
The bullet points read as follows:1. Public parks provide millions of Americans with the opportunity to be physically active.
2. Parks have true economic benefits.
3. Parks provide green space in a fast developing American landscape.
4. Parks provide critical wildlife habitat.
5. Parks and recreation facilitate social interaction that are critical to maintaining community cohesion and pride
6. Leisure activities in parks improve moods, reduce stress and enhance a sense of wellness.
7. Recreational programs provide organized, structured, enjoyable activities for all ages.
8. Community recreation services provide a refuge of safety for at-risk youth.
9. Therapeutic recreation is an outlet that individuals with disabilities have to be physically active, socially engaged and cognitively stimulated.
10. Public parks embody the American tradition of preserving public lands for the benefit and use of all.
The article was published as background information for parks and recreation advocates. Its intended use was in educating elected officials as to the values of our parks and recreation systems. The article is necessary, particularly at a time when government on all levels struggles to keep budgets at some semblance of balance.
Look at the recent failure of a County ballot initiative adding a half cent to our sales tax to help bail out the various parks throughout our County whose budgets are no longer adequate to maintain them.
We in Foster City are fortunate and for many reasons. Foster City does not have to struggle in order to uphold the 10 aforementioned tenets of what makes parks truly special. The reason is simple. Foster City has wisely measured out the cost of its expenditures and has balanced its budget. Most importantly, we only spend the money we have. In addition, the reason we have substantial cash reserves is because we save our money and only spend it when we feel the need is justified.
One of the results is our 21 parks represent what we would expect from our city government. I might add these parks are the envy of every city around us and beyond which is evidenced by the number of out of town guests at City sponsored events, for example, our well attended Summer Concert Series.
My belabored point is we are very lucky folks and from time to time, we should thank those at Parks and Recreation and the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee for making it possible. You may also wish to thank your miserly City Council whose budgetary stewardship balanced our 2008-2009 budget and left 17 million dollars in cash reserves, but it is not necessary.
My next council corner article will again visit the issue of airplane noise. I am the council liaison to the Noise Abatement Advisory Committee and we recently met with befuddlement as to why SFO reports so few noise complaints when many in our community seem to think otherwise.
Once again, I thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve you. I can be reached at home at 650-349-2316 or jkiramis@yahoo.com.
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