FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, July 20, 2005 Ellen Rulseh 920-674-7443
Riverwalk Expansion an Opportunity for the Community Parks, Rec. & Forestry Budget Will Also Need Maintenance Budget Expansion
By John R. Steber, Director of Parks, Recreation and Forestry
The city’s Park, Recreation and Forestry Dept. and the common council have endorsed the concept of expansion of the River Walkway in the City of Watertown, Park and Open Space Plan, which was adopted in February of 2002.
We in the Park, Recreation and Forestry Department are in full support of the concept to expand and improve the River Walkway. We feel strongly about the recreational potential of the river. The River is our most significant and outstanding natural resource and it should be used as much as possible to enhance the beauty and recreational opportunities for our community.
We do, however, have concerns about our department’s ability to provide the high standard of maintenance that a facility such as this will surely demand. We are concerned that our existing facilities and services will suffer to in order to accommodate yet another new facility. All levels of government are being asked to reduce budgets. In our case these cuts have resulted in the reduction of staff, the inability to replace maintenance equipment in a timely manner and the cutting of some long established services.
We are constantly reminded that the budget outlook could become even worse in the future, yet we continue to add facilities. Over the past five to six years, our department has experienced significant growth. There has been the development of Brandt/Quirk Park, three new neighborhood parks added, a Skate Park built and the expansion of both the Senior & Community Center and Municipal Building. In spite of this growth, no additional maintenance resources have been added to the budget, only reductions.
We are concerned that the expanded River Walkway will be yet another facility constructed with little regard given to its maintenance needs and costs. Adding additional staff in the present budget climate is going to be very difficult and there will surely be additional funds needed for ongoing repairs and maintenance.
We also feel that it is very important that considerable thought be given to how the use of bikes, skateboards and roller skates/blades are going to be managed. These activities are becoming more of a mode of transportation and most linear recreation facilities make accommodations for their use.
If these considerations are taken into account and addressed, the expansion of the walkway will greatly improve the public’s recreational access to the river and it has the potential to turn an eyesore into an attractive and valuable public asset. This effort will also provide an opportunity to upgrade the present river walk facility which has deteriorated badly in some areas and is in need of costly repairs.
