Jerry Martien asks Julie Ryan, Alan Bongio, Gregg Gardiner…

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parks and recreation

Every services district has the power to adopt other services besides water and sewer and lighting. HCSD has always served the needs of developers, but not the needs of the rate payers who buy and live in their subdivisions. Compare this with McKinleyville, with a comparable number of customers and extensive parks and public services. Do you favor HCSD adoption of park and recreation powers?

— Jerry Martien

Response

Julie Ryan

Hello Jerry, 

Thank you for your question. When I think about neighborhood parks, I recall many fond memories of taking  my nieces and nephews to the local park to play when they were kids. We still have a family tradition to go for a walk in the neighborhood park and play on the swings during the holidays. 

It is great that Manila and McKinleyville Community Services Districts both provide parks and recreation opportunities to their municipalities and I would be excited to be a member of a board that leads HCSD in adopting park and recreation powers. Laughing, playing, exercising and sharing joy happen in parks. Health benefits of parks include stress reduction and improved fitness from walking and biking in the neighborhood. Spending time in green spaces, even small ones, improves your mood, increases creativity & mindfulness, and improves mental health. The green infrastructure of parks offer environmental services including collecting stormwater runoff, groundwater recharge, rain gardens, and edible landscaping.  

Many parents I have met in the last few months have said they want a neighborhood park that they can walk to without crossing a busy street; plus, they want to spend less time driving and want more amenities closer to home. 

Parks build community. You get to know your neighbors as people. The family with the twins,the retired couple with the cute little dog, the new family in town. When we know each other’s names and see each other more often:  we find common ground, learn new things, and care about each other. When there is an emergency, you know who needs assistance and who has a generator. Community makes us resilient. Not convinced? If you are a numbers person, just a reminder that homes near parks are valued 5%-20% higher than in neighborhoods where parks were not included in the design plan.  

Join me in getting jazzed about Community Services Districts (CSD’s) and what ours could do if we work together. If you would like to learn more about special districts in California, check out https://www.csda.net/special-districts/learn-about . 

HCSD has done a fine job with the basics and there is an opportunity to build upon that. Creating a series of pocket parks in the neighborhoods hugging Eureka  from Freshwater to King Salmon would add an essential community  with a long list of benefits. PS - If you see me on a swing set, don’t be surprised!