To the editor:

As South Whidbey Little League gets ready for another great season, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the staff of South Whidbey Parks & Recreation and the taxpayers of South Whidbey. For years SWLL has used the fields at South Whidbey Community Park to provide a fun and quality experience for the youth of our community.

Each year, our all-volunteer program offers baseball and softball to any player who wants to play regardless of their ability to pay the registration fee. We currently provide this experience to approximately 200 kids each year.

Without the facilities of Community Park, we wouldn’t be able to provide this program. Your tax dollars and the hard work of the parks staff have given all of South Whidbey a wonderful gift in our park. The facilities available to us, and all users, is by far the best facility that I have visited as president of the league. This isn’t by coincidence. The community’s support of our parks and the work of a dedicated staff have contributed to this experience.

Last year, SWLL had the opportunity to host two district tournaments at Community Park fields. They were both a huge success. We are still receiving comments about the events and the facilities that we have here. Many attendees had never been to Community Park and were pleasantly surprised by the quality of the facilities and the professional manner in which they were maintained. This says a great deal about the staff who manages and maintains that beautiful park.

The citizens of South Whidbey will have an opportunity on Feb. 9 to ensure the continued maintenance and operation of these invaluable facilities by supporting the M&O levy measure on the ballot. This is not a new tax but a continuance of the tax the citizens of South Whidbey have supported in the past. This is an opportunity to continue the good work that created the park in the first place, and to continue to provide a quality facility for all citizens of South Whidbey to utilize.

I would like to urge your support of this measure, and invite you all to come watch a game at this wonderful park when our season opens on April 17.

Debbie Holbert

President

South Whidbey Little League