HomeMy WebLinkAbout032126 email- County Parks & RecALERT: BE CAUTIOUS This email originated outside the organization. Do not open attachments or click on links if you are not expecting them.
Dear Commissioners, Eric & Matt,
As a 25 year resident of Port Townsend who has been involved with youth in a variety of capacities, I urge the Board and County to work together in finding the funding to keep the Rec
Center and Parks open.
I have been a volunteer Basketball Coach for Parks & Rec, was a Physical Therapist in both Chimacum and Port Townsend school districts, Birth to THree, the hospital and Uptown PT, former
Board President of JUMP! (Jefferson Universal Movement Playground), and I continue to volunteer my time on school field trips with the Jefferson Land Trust. I have been helping the
City of PT with design ideas and grants for local playgrounds. I have been on the Jefferson County ACAC (Accessible Communities Advisory Committee) for 10 years now and continue to
sit on the Board.
Working for and with kids, families and all generations in our community, I feel it is critical to offer safe and fun play spaces and programs for all children in our community. I strongly
feel that the loss of the Rec Center along with the limited housing in our area will deter families and professionals from staying and or moving to our community. Jefferson Healthcare
has a long term staffing shortage and has lost many good providers over the years as they chose to move elsewhere with better opportunities for the children.
I have a commitment Monday during the planned workshop BOCC presentation by Eric and Matt and will watch it later after it has been recorded. I hope that Parks & Rec will take into account
the strong support for ongoing Rec Center staffing and programming. The Community is available to help in fundraising and would like to have better communication and news updates so
it doesn't come down to the wire with such short notice.
The County Parks and Rec website has no mention of potential closure of the Rec Center. I have not seen any social media notices of the budget cuts and potential loss of Rec Center,
playground, parks, etc. As the BOCC, Matt & Eric know, when there is a will, there is a way, as evidenced by the creation of JUMP!
If more news had been shared earlier, perhaps community members invested in Parks & Rec and the Rec Center could have started a fundraising campaign and maybe still can. Our kids need
us. Families need a viable Rec Center.
Let's figure out how to do this! I look forward to seeing the recorded presentation and seeing ways that we can band together to create a vibrant Parks and Rec without bandaiding the
situation.
Sincerely,
Sarah Grossman
360-531-1144