PRSR INFORMATION 06-18-1994 - Laserfiche WebLink

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SAINT PAUL PIONEER PRESS 2ND JUNE 1994 '.' •N OURS DAY - `` 1 • SECTION 6 PAGES _ Woodbu to vote on recreation bonds •• _a 7.8 million would be used •Improvements to 14 of the city's 28 neighbor- hood parks,including the addition of play equipment, •: to develop 80-acre complex basketball and tennis courts, picnic shelters and ` year-round recreation activity buildings. JIM BROEDE STAFF WRITER - a Acquisition of land for designation as permanent open space. I t is being promoted opportunity play "We need to play catch-up," said John Dickhudt, g p as an pp y to p y chairman of the Residents for Recreation Commit- cattcc�dbury voters will go to the polls Saturday tee. "We are way behind in development of our from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. to decide the fate of a $7.8 kids and adults We haven't providing a recreation-related eation related million recreation bond issue. bond issue referendum-for 22 years, and that's a The City Council has proposed spending that, plus 'shame." • • $1.3 million already in city coffers, for The last issue passed in 1972, when Woodbury had a Development of an 80-acre recreation complex of•outdoor ball fields, an ice arena, a field house, only 6,500 residents and was more rural than urban picnic grounds, a bandstand, trails and ponds. • WOODBURY CONTINUED ON 2C I- _ Athletic boosters lobbied the city for 1 - the referendum. jdler to the oldest senior citizen. I People of all ages use the neigh- WOODBURY borhood parks and the picnic steel- _ tern.But they'll also be able to use a track in the field house for jog- CONTINUED FROM IC ging and walking in the winter." City officials estimate that the in character. Now, it is Washing- bond issue will result in tax in- ton County's•biggest and fastest- creases ranging from $41 on a growing city, with a population of $75,000 home to $167 on a 27,000. $300,000 home. "Unfortunately, our recreation I Also, by spreading the debt over i facilities aren't growing nearly as 20 years the city plans to tap the fast as the city," Dickhudt said. I future tax base. That means prop- "We now turn kids away from our erty owners who haven't arrived 1 baseball, football and soccer pro- yet will pay part of the bill. I grams because there just aren't "This is the cheapest crime pre- enough fields to go around." vention dollar we can spend," Athletic boosters such as Dick- Dickhudt said. "We are ivin our hudt lobbied the city for the refer- . i kids more opportunity to stay ac endum. tive instead of sitting in front of "We think there's strong support the TV or hanging around the for this bond issue," Dickhudt said, street corners." "because there's something in it City officials said they are un- f or everyone, from the tiniest tod- aware of any organized opposition to the bond issue. I