A town hall meeting will be held by Wildomar City Council today in an effort to seek community feedback on ways to help fund and save the city’s parks.
The meeting comes after the California Supreme Court’s recent decision to decline review of an appeal ruling to strike down a $28 yearly assessment fee on residents. The fee helps maintains Wildomar’s parks. The court’s decision could ultimately lead to the city having to close down its three public parks.
CA Supreme Court denies review of Wildomar parks case
“Not having the funding for our parks in our community hurts everyone. The consequences are devastating for the quality of life many of us have come to enjoy. This hurts the city’s efforts in everything from economic development to developing parks programming for all age groups in the city. We want our residents to show up and voice their opinions. Imagine children growing up in a community without parks it’s simply unacceptable”, Mayor Bridgette Moore said in a news release.
The town meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Marna O’Brien Park, 20505 Palomar Street, Wildomar.
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Why don’t we have a 5k run walk to raise money for the parks. Local businesses can have booths and donate 50% of the proceeds on food sales for the city. If we have no parks we don;t need and city employees to manage. Lets look at the break down of spending line by line. Post it on the city website. Lets make some cuts.
Option # 2 privatize the parks.
Hi Laurie,
I hope you will attend on Wednesday and we can discuss your ideas. Currently, the Parks “staff” is only ONE PERSON.
That’s one too many.
Bridgette, you really should tone down your rhetoric. “not funding our parks..hurts everyone” – no it doesn’t. “the consequences are devasting for the quality of life” – no it isn’t. Please save panic words for real emergencies, not politicians money grabs.
Don’t worry Bridgette, Taxpayer is from the “Me” generation. Me Me Me. If it doesn’t benefit me, I don’t care.
Yes you are right. A community that has parks make a better balanced community. It has been wonderful to see the young people there enjoying a place to relate to others. A place to have a organized way to release the energy and learn to be competitive in a healthy way. Added benefit to get the exercise to help their overall health. I and many see $28.00 fee benefits us all indirectly even if we don’t have children. But the parks are for all ages because parents can join their children and make a better close knit family and everyone at all ages can enjoy many events that we can have at the parks.
Wildomar officials need to get a grip on fiscal reality: we are in the throes of the worst recession in our nation’s history. People are losing their jobs and losing their homes. Recreation is far from the minds of most people. In fact, most Wildomar residents don’t even use the parks! If people truly want parks, then let them pay for them with user fees or privatize them. if Riverside can privatize their library system, then Wildomar can lead the way with parks privatization. I suggest to the city council to stop being so dramatic. It’s not an emergency, folks. Wildomar survived and didn;t suffer dire consequences when the OTRPD closed down, Wildomar can survive this — and maybe even thrive. Ultimately, forcing people to pay for something they do not want or use is immoral…especially in economies such as what we are living through right now.
“Community Park”
The name itself describes its intent and purpose. Too many of us live in communities where we have never met the family next door or down the street. I’ve lived in this community for almost 10 years and until I started going to Marna O’Brien park and the other parks in the Wildomar/Lake Elsinore area, I couldn’t name 10 families in my community. Now, after meeting people who are now my closest friends, I can say that I now know nearly 100 families. I feel more secure because I know what type of people are around me. I truly love this community and less than $2.50/month is well worth the reward of living in a friendly open community. Our choices here are simple; do we want to build our community or tear it down?
Concerned resident:
It’s not necessarily the cost which some people object to, but rather being forced to pay for something they do not use or desire. If you find that paying the money is no financial burden upon you, then feel free to voluntarily pay it. I won’t stop you. In fact, I applaud sincere, voluntary action. Where i draw the line is using the barrel of a gun to extract money from people to whom the money rightly belongs. Your money belongs to YOU and not anyone else. I could never morally demand –via threat of force– that you pay for something I personally want.
The city of Wildomar has an excellent opportunity to accomplish something that not only makes fiscal sense, but can actually prevent another divisive election: they should immediately institute user fees and hire a company to maintain and operate all parks. Unfortunately, it seems all they are interested in is passing yet another tax. Talk about uncreative, and divisive!
@Gene Trosper
Thanks for the reply comment but I think your missing my point. The cost is not my concern. everyone benefits from the parks whether they actively use them or not. The parks are a community resource and you may have visiting children or relatives that use the park without your knowledge. Also a park can be compared to a fire station, while you may never have a fire at your home, it’s still important to have that resource available. If your neighbor’s home burned down, yours could be next.
The children left on the street with nothing better to do is reason enough to maintain and even increase the community parks. While they may not be your children, the negative impact on the community may affect you if the children begin to indulge in more mischievous activities.
Gene, you appear to be a very reasonable person and I do see your point about being forced to pay, however I do suggest that you not poke your eye out just because you don’t like what you see. We throw away $28 a year on things that have far less an impact on our lives. Take the time to visit some of the parks, you may find a new source of enoyment.