With the current economy, California isn’t the only state eyeing parks and green spaces funding to close budget shortfalls. In Washington’s King County, as many as 39 parks could be closed to the public on January 1, 2010.
King County Executive Kurt Triplett made the announcement on Monday. The parks affected are in unincorporated areas throughout the county, and the parks range from the small, 1.2-acre Green Tree Park near Kent, to the 44.5-acre Maplewood Park outside of Renton.
Council members have argued that public safety and health and human services are far more important budget items than green spaces. While these services are very important and vital to the community, providing a green space for residents is a great benefit to the community as well. Parks are a great little to no-cost form of entertainment, and in these stressful economic times, many are finding them even more valuable. Rather than closing them, many suggest reevaluation and trimming the funding, or allowing community organizations to take over maintenance.
You can read more about the issue in the Seattle Times. We’ll be following how the story plays out in the future.
