8.0. PRSR 07-13-1994 - Laserfiche WebLink

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SAINT PAUL PIONEER PRESS 2ND /, JUNE 1994 •N C . SDAY ' SECTION . 6 PAGES 1 Woodbury to vote on recreation bonds .. . _ _ . .a7.8 million would be used hood 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 •Acquisition of land for designation as permanent ` open space. ®t is being promoted as an opportunity to play "We need to play catch-up," said John Dickhudt, g p pp y p y chairman of the Residents for Recreation Commit- ca Woodbury 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.Wke haven't held a recreation-related d 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 • ••Development of an 80-acre recreation complex only 6,500 residents and was more rural than urban of outdoor ball fields, an ice arena, a field house, picnic grounds, a bandstand, trails and ponds. WOODBURY CONTINUED ON 2C> _ ` Athletic boosters . lobbied the city for — the referendum. dler to the oldest senior citizen. People of all ages use the neigh- WOODBURY borhood parks and the picnic shel- YY OO _ tern.But they'll also be able to use a track in the field house for jog- v. CONTINUED FROM IC ging and walking in the winter." in character. Now, it is Washing- City officials estimate that the in- ton County's•Now, and fastest- bond issue will result in tax in- y biggest 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 Also, by spreading the debt over 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. 1 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 giving our hudt lobbied the city for the refer- 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 f for this bond issue," Dickhudt said, street corners." "because there's something in it City officials said they are un- for everyone, from the tiniest tod- aware of any organized opposition to the bond issue. ..1. I