This is the master plan for what the City is calling the K-8 park. Basically next to what we all know as Arvada Middle School (now called K-8) where the track field is, the City of Arvadaa plans on building a $1.2 million dollar park. Here is the kicker, the City of Arvada will not own the park, they are just building it. The title of the park will be held by Jefferson County Schools. What does that mean. It means that $1.2 million of your tax dollars are being given to Jeffco Schools to build a park for the students without any consideration for ownership. If for example the City actually builds this park and Jeffco decides 5 years down the road they don't like something, they have complete control. In fact if the City built the park, Jeffco could then decide to lock it down and restrict public access to students only, lets get this straight they OWN the land. But wait, it gets worse. You don't think that Jefferson County Public Schools is going to maintain this park do you. No way, that will also be payed for by City tax dollars. The Arvada parks and Recreation district will be responsible for maintenance of the park, several thousands of dollars over the years. Take a look at the plans below and above and much like those "Where's Waldo" books you read as a kid see if you can find anything that is missing from the plans?
It can be hard to see what is missing because the City of Arvada went to a lot of work to gather community feedback for the construction of the park, although the only people that knew about the meetings were the City's own parks advisory committee, so truthfully the public was never invited or even knew about it for that matter. So they thought it would be great if they threw in tennis courts, an amphitheater, bike racks, climbing rocks, statues, oh and let's not forget the baseball field. Did you figure it out? If not let me give you a hint:
Get it? These park designers and consultants are all giving themselves pats on the backs because a bunch of retirees who have no children showed up and told them what to put in a park (for old people). Then the school told them what they wanted. And nowhere along the process were the residents asked what they wanted for this monstrosity of a park, and what is it's greatest attribute according to the people who designed it? It connects a major bike trail. OH, well if it connects a major bike trail it MUST be great! Who cares about families that want a swimming pool in their neighborhood to enjoy with their children and grandchildren throughout the summer. For the record I don't know what genius developed these splash pads but we don't appreciate them replacing swimming pools in our community. And please let us not start with the rhetoric that in two elections voters were against increasing taxes, so they don't want a swimming pool. Just because we don't want higher taxes doesn't mean we don't want a swimming pool that we paid for to be maintained and repaired when needed. The citizens seem outraged that there isn't a swimming pool and there isn't going to be a swimming pool. For some reason this splash pad doesn't seem to be the pacifier that fills the baby's mouth. Now to find out that we are building this park which again, will not have a swimming pool and will not be owned by the City that builds it, should upset people.
If this upsets you at all or you would like more information about why the City of Arvada is not planning on building a swimming pool in either the K-8 donation or the Garrison Park please contact those responsible:
Councilmember, District One
Rachel Zenzinger
303-748-0770 (cell phone)
rzenzinger@arvada.org
Councilmember DistrictThree
Shelly Cook
720-935-9224
cooksj@attglobal.net
scook@arvada.org
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