Voting on the Maple Valley Parks Bond is like buying a new car. The dealership shows me a shiny new car with all of the bells and whistles. Then, they give me the bad news that this particular car can only be purchased as a package deal. If I want it, I have to buy a couple of clunkers with it. Take it, or leave it.

I was really excited to see the proposed changes to Lake Wilderness Park and the addition of Summit Park in the bond measure. Unfortunately, the city decided to slip in a couple more sites, hoping I wouldn’t notice.

They want a blank check to do “something” with the Legacy site. No clearly defined plan, just vague ideas. They want funding for upgrades to a golf course that has been bleeding money since the city bought it. This gaping wound won’t stop bleeding with the band-aid provided by the bond. The capper is, there isn’t any money included for maintenance and operation for any of the sites.

So, it is likely that this is only the beginning of the drain on my finances. We need new parks, but this package isn’t the right deal.

Vote no on the parks bond.

Linda Olson

Maple Valley