HomeMy WebLinkAbout121025 email - Proposed Budget CutsALERT: BE CAUTIOUS This email originated outside the organization. Do not open attachments or click on links if you are not expecting them.
Dear Jefferson County Commissioners,
I have heard that the Port Townsend Recreation Center is at risk of closure due to necessary budget cuts. I appreciate the tough decisions you need to take in order to make ends meet,
but would like to put in a plug in hopes that the Rec Center is spared.
The Rec Center has been a part of my life for nearly 70 years. As a kid, my 3 siblings and I participated in special offerings such as “tumbling class” conducted in the gym. That’s
how I learned to perfect my somersault! Aside from what we learned, it was the perfect place to gather with a spectrum of kids from all over town, providing an opportunity to have
structured, safe fun outside of school. As we grew, the Rec Center, with its central location, was always a popular place to meet up with friends.
Older members of my family have also enjoyed the services and activities that take place there. An elderly aunt volunteered to assist with foot care clinics there for years, another
took advantage of the tax assistance given at the site, and another aunt played pool each week at the Rec Center with a cadre of elders.
Now, as a grandmother of Port Townsend kids, I am witnessing extended use of the facility by my daughter and her two little ones, along with many of their friends, as a place for unstructured
play and introduction to athletic activities (basketball, for example). The site is a great place for birthday party rentals.
I recognize that budget cuts are necessary in Jefferson County in order handle deficits in 2026 and wish you the best in determining what to cut. For the sake of young families and
all others who find respite and enjoyment there, I hope programs at the Port Townsend Recreation Center are not compromised.
Sincerely,
Trish Hanson