Letter to the Editor: Orcas Rec District Would Be a Wise Investment

Dear Editor:

I had just been in town and noticed how brilliant the fall colors on our street trees are becoming.  I felt thankful that back then, someone had the vision, courage, and resources to invest in a part of our future in a way that was not directly connected to bringing in a dollar profit, but rather, to enable others in the future to embrace a warm and welcoming ambiance and cultivate beauty in our daily lives, which will only improve with age.  I can still hear the bellyaching from those who thought it was a waste of time and money.

I’ve been taking hikes up the north end of Turtleback regularly after work — the 2.3 miles up hill to the loop fork, and then back down again.
Exploring the pocket wetlands, open woodland, and exposed mossy knolls again brings to mind the fortitude of our community to bring this unique area into the public domain for the purpose of preservation and recreation.  Again, an investment was made with quality-of-life taking priority over and above a “no-we-can’t” do-nothing position.

Unlike the ominous Critical Areas Ordinance, I see the proposed Park and Recreation District on the upcoming ballot to be right in line with a broadly expressed community sentiment of wise investment, which we are totally capable of doing, and which will bring immeasurable benefit to the community at large and to those who visit the islands each year because they love it so much.

By voting yes on the formation of an”Orcas-only” Parks and Rec. District, our own programs for kids, parks and recreation will deliver great opportunities, be efficient, and will be “Orcas-grown” by our friends and neighbors.

As I powered up Turtleback today, my mantra became “yes I can”, and then “yes, we can do this”. In spite of the economic challenges facing the entire nation, we must, and we will, turn this ship around and seize the opportunity to make the necessary investments of volunteerism, hard work, focused community foresight, and where needed, sufficient funding, to ensure a quality of life and environment that most of us have come to expect.

With the contraction of the old San Juan-centric system, we have much to lose by doing nothing.  By picking up the ball and running with it, we have nothing to lose, and much to gain.  As for this household, we’ll be voting for an Orcas Parks and Recreation District and happily turn the job over to Marian O’Brien, Bob Eagan, Martha Farish, Jim Bredouw, and Ian Lister.

Jeff and Bonnie Bossler
Westsound