Comments on: County’s 2008 pledge to South Kitsap park mostly fulfilled

By: Kathryn Simpson

Kathryn Simpson — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 02:34:48 +0000

Thanks for the correction, Chris.

It was very unfortunate that things became ‘prickly’ and contentious. Ultimately, the right thing happened and the property was transferred to a steward that could ‘grow the park’.

I am grateful for those who worked hard to make that happen. Now, I hope there will be more folks that will continue to press the County to invest in parks and recreation in South Kitsap so that the park becomes a great asset to our children and families for generations.

By: Chris Henry

Chris Henry — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 19:07:57 +0000

Kathryn and Judi – I take your point. I have made the correction and I apologize for the error.

What is almost buried in collective memory is that transfer of the park to the county came about in large part as a result of the county’s threat of litigation over the district’s election debt. While some members of the parks district board recognized their inability to continue maintaining the park, others resisted. The insurance investigation you launched seemed an attempt to thwart members of the parks board who were resisting the transfer by trying to raise funds to pay off the debt.

I hereby express no opinion on either party’s actions. I raise the details to recall one last time that transfer of the park to the county was a prickly process and that members of the community on both sides of the issue were emotionally invested in the park.

Chris Henry
reporter

By: Kathryn Simpson

Kathryn Simpson — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 02:48:07 +0000

Judi makes a very good point. The fire was suspicious and deemed arson, but our request focused on the insurance claim not blame for the fire.

By: Judi Edwards

Judi Edwards — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 01:12:38 +0000

Chris! You need to edit your article! Community members didn’t accuse the Park District of “setting fire to an equipment shed.”
“Community members” asked that the park District be investigated for inflating the value of the items lost. You owe an apology and a correction!

By: Kathryn Simpson

Kathryn Simpson — Sun, 30 Sep 2012 16:34:25 +0000

I should buffer my comment a bit. The park is in much better shape in the hands of Kitsap County. The fields are in far better shape and usable by youth sports clubs, the new playground is nice (though I still know many parents afraid to have their young children in the park), and there is a gorgeous master plan.

However, the progress has been painfully slow. I would have preferred less spending on design (that may/may not ever come to fruition) and more spending on tangible progress.

Restrooms and a concession stand should have been amongst the first tangibles installed. With as many families that use the park during sports seasons, this could have been win-win and revenue positive.

As one of the most vocal of activists to get the park into the County’s hands and an elected official familiar with bureaucratic red tape, I understand that progress can be slow. But four years and still we have honey buckets at the park instead of real restrooms? That is painfully slow progress.

By: Kathryn Simpson

Kathryn Simpson — Sun, 30 Sep 2012 16:21:12 +0000

According to the Kitsap Sun’s numbers:

$757,369 has been spent on designs and permits.

$740,478 has been spent on Skate Park construction (and path grading).

Only $218,569 has been spent on any visible improvement other than the Skatepark work.

The ‘progress’ at the park has been heavy on design and very short on tangible work product. Our community deserves better!