HomeMy WebLinkAbout1977 01-19 Park referendum - matter of choice REVIEW c%an '9 /9 '2
For Maplewood residents
--2
Park
referendum -
by Anne Skinner area with ordered and refined, for the at present is one of "catching up" ac-
most part, open space. cording to the comprehensive plan. The
The Maplewood Parks Acquisition and Today, however, parks are not con- co el when budget deemir laseslatiod -
Development Bond Referendum basically sidered so much a luxury as the are a Y the levy
n
focuses around one central question: Do necessity. The interest in exercise has was passed,and with it ensued a decrease
the taxpayers want more and expanded probably spurred this trend as much as in acquisition and development.
facilities in the span of two years, or the need for any open space — whether A real benefit of a bond issue is that it is
would they rather wait 16 years for the ordered or wild — as the big city's en- immune from inflation. To accomplish
improvements and acquisition to take croachment on the first ring suburb's the proposed tasks, the construction will
place? resources and total area continues to have to be completed in a short period of
The bond issue is geared around the spiral. time so that inflation will not out-run the
concept that every resident of Maplewood While most residents would agree that cost of the projects and thereby limit
should have a neighborhood park within parks are a good asset to the community, them in scope.
walking distance of his or her home. the bone of contention still rests in the The projected of maintenance for
Presently, 21 parks are in some stage of area of cost versus benefit. The break- theT rojectedcost is: one part-time
development in the city. To attain the down of cost per annum to pay for the employee ee improvementsoparks during
neighborhood park goal,the city will have bond is according to market value is: 1977mand onehe additional department full-time ng
to acquire probably twice that number in $3.47 for a home worth$20,000,$5.71 for at7 ea duringthe following years. em-
the future. home worth $30,000, $7.95 for a home P Y
The
The bond issue, if passed, would worth$40,000 and$10.19 for a home worth majority of improvements have been
designed so that they are relatively
forp
allocate$315,000 for land acquisition and $50,000. maintenance free, with the exception of
$536,000 for park development. The new hockey rinks and landscaping.
land acquired would be in the following The parks commission has stated that Eric Blank, director of the parks
neighborhoods: one acre in Gladstone, i10
n the cost per home will decrease as the department,believes there will be enough
acres in Sherwood Glen, 15 acres in residential and commercial influx into the
Parkside and 10 acres in Highwo revenue gained from the city's Park
The city increases.The burden will be spread Usage Charge from future commercial
development would affect all existing over a greater number of people, above and residential developers to cover the
parks except Flicek Park, and would and beyond the effect inflation would have added maintenance cost. He said a good
involve landscaping, recreational fields be
on a home's market value. portion of the maintenance could
and surfaces,trails,benches,shelters and
absorbed by the present staff as well.
parking improvements.
The benefits would involve greater
ANOTHER CENTRAL QUESTION is: facilities for recreation, including more Neighborhood meetings have been
how much of a luxury is a park system for tennis courts, hockey rinks, bike trails, scheduled to answer Maplewood
a first ring suburb such as Maplewood? walking and jogging trails, multi-use residents' questions regarding the
The city has doubled its size in 20 years courts,warming huts,picnic shelters and proposed plan. All the meetings are
and is greatly affected by the develop- landscaping, as well as greater areas in scheduled for 7:30 p.m. The places and
ment and expansion of the City of St. which to recreate.The bond issue is seen dates follow: Hazelwood School,Jan. 19;
Paul.It would be safe to say that park and by many as an investment in the near old Gladstone School,Jan.25;and Beaver
open space is swiftly disappearing, future and for future generations of Lake School, Jan. 26.
particularily around cities such as current residents. The park system is Whether the task is accomplished in the
Maplewood which border one of the Twin actually an on-going feature and not a near future or over a period of a
Cities. Twenty years ago, so little of the machine which will wear out and have to generation's time will be determined
city had been developed, a park was be replaced in a matter of years. when Maplewood voters go to the polls on
probably considered a luxury: it was an The position the parks commission is in Feb. 8.
THE REVIEW Wed., Jan. 19, 1977 Page 13B
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