To the editor:

Soon the voters of South Whidbey will be receiving their ballots for the Feb. 9 election. Both South Whidbey Parks & Recreation District and the South Whidbey School District will be asking you to make decisions. Since we share the same constituency, it makes sense that we share the ballot.

As a member of the board of commissioners of the parks district, I ask that you vote yes for our maintenance-and-operations levy. The amount of 15 cents per $1,000 is the same amount that the district has asked for in each levy since its inception in 1983. As the tax base has grown, so has the revenue generated by this 15 cents.

The parks district too has grown in these years. Initially 40 acres, the district now has 110 acres known as Castle Park Playground, Community Park and the Sports Complex (all of which includes baseball and soccer fields, a second playground, picnic shelters, a skate park and woodland trails). The facilities at Trustland Trails, a 200-acre forested parcel, will be coming online in the following months. In addition to walking and equestrian trails, this park will offer an ADA accessible loop trail. Beginning this year, the parks district will take over from Island County the duties for maintenance and operation of the public access sites (6.35 acres in total) for Lone Lake, Goss Lake and Deer Lake.

Throughout the years, the parks district has focused on being fiscally responsible with your tax dollars, growing and adding only when the funds were available. Please continue your support by voting yes for the parks district to retain the levy of 15 cents per $1,000.

Linda Kast

Langley