It’s been a year of takeaways at Pierce County parks.
No mowing and closed restrooms at neighborhood sites. Frontier Park’s playground torn down before there was money to replace it. Sprinker Recreation Center’s skating rink slated for closure because of an unsafe roof.
It felt like a betrayal at first.
It’s turned out to be a refreshing community-builder and a continuing civics lesson.
The people who depend on these parks for recreation and exercise demanded the chance to keep them whole. Now they’re learning how complex and diverse an undertaking that can be.
In Midland, when they first asked for permission to mow the lawn, clean the bathrooms and pick up the trash, they were turned down. So was their request to hire professionals to do it.
It could lower Pierce County Parks and Recreation standards, they were told. It would pose a liability risk. The solution was a three-year adopt-a-park agreement, which Midland residents and businesses feared might stretch into infinity.
So residents engaged in civil disobedience. They rode their mowers into the park one fine Saturday morning and cut it down to size.
Officials budged. They found a clause in the adopt-a-park agreement that would allow Midland people to opt out when finances improve. To humor the lawyers, residents agreed to let park staff teach them the correct way to pick up litter, mow lawns and adhere to a maintenance schedule.
Lesson one: A determined group protests government policy, enters into civil discussion and wins positive change.
In Graham, fifth-graders at Kapowsin Elementary School were shocked to tears when the county tore down Frontier Park’s play equipment, which had become unsafe. Sara Lamrouex mustered kids and parents to ask Parks and Rec Director Kathy Kravit-Smith for permission to raise $200,000 for the new equipment.
The kids, led by Lamrouex and encouraged by their teacher, Bob Hansler, are spending the summer learning where money comes from.
They’ve earned about $10,000 the old-fashioned way, with spaghetti feeds and car washes. This week they’re selling fireworks, T-shirts and handmade park benches at a stand near The Poodle Dog in Fife.
They have a slogan: “We’re working in order to play.”
They’ve enlisted the business community, which will support them with earnings from Grazing in Graham, July 24 at Frontier Park.
Politicians are inviting them to rallies, and encouraging supporters to make a donation to the Big Toy Team. The kids are listening to their parents discuss their votes based on the politicians’ support.
They’ve heard their work has earned points on a Parks and Rec application for a $120,000 state conservation and recreation grant.
Lesson two: If you’re serious enough to work hard for what your community needs, people and agencies in government will take that need seriously.
At Sprinker Recreation Center in Spanaway, the problem is 150 times worse. The roof is unsafe, and the popular facility will likely close Oct. 31. Renovating the worn-out building will cost $28 million to $34 million. You can’t touch that with a bake sale.
At first, users reacted with the obligatory blame-slinging. Now they’re telling county leaders they’ll work with them to find a source of money.
Sure, it would be great if the Stimulus Fairy noted that the county has a good start on the plans to rehab the center, and that a grant will create good jobs now and keep residents healthier later.
It’s always nice when federal dollars find their way home.
It’s pleasant, too, when giant corporations send random money. They’re sponsoring contests that encourage people to click on their websites and vote for their pet projects. Sprinker fans are working on getting onto one of those sites.
They’ve launched Facebook campaigns, “Friends of Sprinker,” and “Hey Pierce County Officials: Get Sprinker Recreation Center Renovated Now.”
They’re engaged in hard discussions with the county about whether it should levy a new tax to raise the millions to cover the work.
Lesson three: It’s up to us to keep officials accountable, tell them how we want our money spent, and, when we figure it out, to cover our share of the bill.
Kathleen Merryman: 253-597-8677 kathleen.merryman@thenewstribune.com blog.thenewstribune.com/street
JOIN THE DISCUSSION | Register here
We welcome comments. Please keep them civil, short and to the point. ALL CAPS, spam, obscene, profane, abusive and off topic comments will be deleted. Repeat offenders will be blocked. Thanks for taking part — and abiding by these simple rules. A thorough explanation of rules of conduct can be found in our Terms of Service. If you have any questions, including why your comment may not be showing immediately after you submit it, be sure to visit the commenting FAQ.