BETTER IDEAS PAGE
We're all for parks and bike trails and swim centers but
the argument for not approving the November 2nd Bond Issue for parks and a
recreation building on the Heights seems to be the correct one in this case.
First Point: The park department is tearing
down Terry Park Fire Station and the recreation building which are good buildings (http://www.redfly.com/journal/flycreek/Oct99/oldtowns.htm).
This is a waste of our city resources and hurts our environment. Don't give people that
are wasteful more money until they change their ways.
Would you tear down your building or your house because of
some cracks in the concrete. Of course not, the only people that do that are the ones
using someone else's money and don't know how to use their resources right. Giving more
money to wasteful people that don't think is like giving an addict more dope.
Second Point: The Fire Department is
building their new station in Terry Park and the school district wants to build a new
school in South Park. Park land is not a free building site for fire stations, recreation
buildings, or schools. It costs big money but they pretend it doesn't. If it doesn't cost
money for parks, why are they asking for millions? Also, they could revitalize the old
neighborhoods by building near the parks where old dangerous buildings now exist. We
should not fund more parks until they stop screwing up the parks and neighborhoods we
have.
Building and paving park land contributes to urban sprawl
which everyone claims they are against. If businesses can plan ahead, buy land, and build
without using park land, so can the city. Until they do, don't vote for further funding.
Third Point: A couple years back the city
and park department said they couldn't run South Pool efficiently and wanted the YMCA to
take control. What makes them think they could run the new pool in the Heights any better.
By their own admission it will be inefficient from the get go.
The city should find a qualified partner like an established
for-profit athletic club which could plan, build, and lease the facility from the city
long-term and run it like a business on the city's behalf. The city is not qualified to
develop nor do they have the management skills needed to oversee a business of this
nature.
Funding parks and recreation is the right thing to do for our
community but sometimes we have to make tough decisions for long-term benefits. If a
relative is an addict you don't keep sending them a check. You show some tough love and
hope they get more sense.
Most people that support the bond issue are simply misguided
because they don't see these details. They are after the right thing, but we need to
establish good community planning principles before we proceed. Urban sprawl is the most
important issue facing humanity not to mention the families trying to pay the bills to
support our communities. Everytime a community doesn't plan for the future, wastes
resources, extends services, or lets the department head take Wednesday afternoon and go
golfing we all pay. If park land is free why are they asking for millions?
Supporting people already committed to your town is the
key - not giving tax incentives to outside competitors.
Design Center for your community.
If we can't manufacture it here, we can sure design it
and send it over the Internet!
Small towns could export industrial design, product design,
urban design, architectural design and more! Make it a priority as a way to improve the
local economy and create jobs. Supporting people already committed to your town is the key
- not giving tax incentives to outside competitors.
How to start: Send representatives from local design firms to
professional development courses like Harvard University Graduate School of Design or
Recreation Facilities Design and Management School in Denver. The representatives can
report back to the community with what they have learned and how the community can utilize
the new knowledge working together.
Now, towns like Billings import swimming pool design firms
from out-of-state instead of hiring local firms. Then the city wonders how to improve the
local economy.
Newsflash: Billings has million dollars in
red ink on the books this year - city administrator quits and leaves town for good.
What is your community doing to support the talented
professionals already working there? e-mail jb@redfly.com.
Copyright 1999 by Jeffrey C. Baston, NCARB, AIA
