Pamplin Media Group – City councilor: Future of parks in Milwaukie is in your hands

Desi Nicodemus: Metropolis is healthier suited to finish Milwaukie Bay Park, slightly than ready for county funding.

I like strolling and biking with my spouse and son. It is a terrific solution to spend high quality time collectively whereas stress-free and getting some train. Naturally, metropolis parks are one among our favourite locations. My son performs on the playground, and my associate and I get time away to relax within the sunshine.

I am pleased with the function metropolis parks absorb our lives and in my small half to serving to convey as a lot open house as doable to Milwaukie.

Milwaukie owns its parks, together with the Milwaukie Neighborhood Middle. Since 1990, we’ve been part of a particular district — North Clackamas Parks & Recreation District (NCPRD) — that manages our parks and gives leisure programming. Along with serving Milwaukie, NCPRD gives parks companies to a portion of unincorporated Clackamas County and operates each the aquatic heart and Milwaukie Neighborhood Middle, though the latter is owned by the town, and runs group sports activities leagues. (Pleased Valley was within the district however efficiently left in 2019.) NCPRD is ruled by the Board of County Commissioners, who make all funding and planning choices with the 54 cents per $1,000 of assessed worth collected from property house owners for NCPRD companies.

Whereas NCPRD employees has achieved a terrific job of growing plans and lining up funding for Milwaukie Bay Park, the Board of County Commissioners has been unwilling to finalize the contracts mandatory to construct the park, leading to expensive delays.

Because the delay in Milwaukie Bay Park has indicated, we’re struggling to get the NCPRD to comply with by on this explicit duty and construct new parks in Milwaukie. This whereas, due to Senator Taylor and Consultant Energy, the town is at the moment planning and constructing three parks with out NCPRD’s involvement. With the town’s confirmed monitor document, we predict that the town of Milwaukie is healthier suited to finish Milwaukie Bay Park, slightly than ready round hoping county funding comes by.

Lately, Metropolis Council requested employees to look into what it will take for the town to go away NCPRD, so we are able to fulfill our dedication to the group to proceed to offer top-notch outside amenities and recreation with out the burden of answering to, in search of enter from, or begging for funding from our county commissioners.

We’ve not determined to go away but, however we do wish to know what our choices are.

Leaving the district would imply the cash collected from growth for Milwaukie’s parks could be positioned again in Milwaukie’s fingers. This could enable Metropolis Council and employees to be extra attentive to the group’s rising wants and guarantee enhancements are made, new facilities are growth and leisure alternatives enhance.

If we proceed in taking again upkeep of our parks, I can’t help asking for a rise this 12 months in what you at the moment pay, and I do not count on my Metropolis Council friends will both. Any change to that stance sooner or later could be on the request of our group and solely after a big public course of.

However, do not let me be the ultimate phrase. Come be part of the dialog and make your opinions heard at our subsequent info session at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 10, on the Ledding Library, 10660 S.E. twenty first Ave., Milwaukie.

Desi Nicodemus is a Milwaukie metropolis councilor.