Duvall's Residents Rank Swimming Facility as Top Priority in Area Survey

--By M. Van Ness

The Construction and operation of a swimming facility in our region was given top priority by Duvall households randomly surveyed recently by the City of Duvall. According to the survey, a swimming facility was the highest indicated need and that 83% of the respondents want the city to explore options that could make a community swimming pool a reality. See City of Duvall website for details: http://www.duvallwa.gov// then click on Parks,Trails and Open Space Survey

A major option is to create a Municipal Parks District. A park district functions like your fire or water district but with a mission of serving Residents as an advocate for essential recreation uses and opportunities not being provided through other means within the district. King County does not have a sufficient, stable source of revenue to manage and maintain its local parks at current levels. Local residents and governments must see our needs best of all. More US towns are doing just that. A Municipal Parks District can be designated areas, including incorporated/unincorporated land, even land spreading to cooperating counties. The MPD plan has shown great success in Canada and the US. Tacoma, Bremerton, North Bend have MPD histories in good standing. Fall City has plans of forming a Municipal Parks District which will be voted on this Fall. Check out their website at: http://www.fallcityparks.org/what_is_a_parks_district . The residents who have worked together to establish this park district are recommending commissioners approve a maximum tax up front and it is the duty of voters to hold them to that tax rate. There is the added advantage that commissioners also live in the district and would not be expected to overtax themselves.

What is a Parks District? A Park District is an independent, regional unit of government, defined by chosen boundaries, similar to a fire district, hospital district or school district, allowing local control of the parks in it's district. A Board of Commissioners (5) would govern the Park District being responsible for adopting the district budget and developing goals, policies and regulations which will guide the District's future management, improvement, maintenance, and acquisition of parks, parkways, boulevards, and recreation facilities, being directly accountable to taxpayers for any tax levy expenditures and other allowable projects or park district actions they approve. As a park district resident, you will have a more direct influence on how and where your tax money is spent.

So, What can we do to make it happen? MPD's may be proposed by local government resolution or by citizens petition. If a majority of the voters support the creation of the MPD and vote in favor of the formation of the District, the MPD shall be created as a municipal corporation prepared to take action. 15% of the registered voters in a proposed area must sign the petition to put it on the ballot. The parks we want and need including a community center, swimming pool facility, a city-wide trail system with improved existing and future parks can be more than a dream, It can be a reality.