Critical to invest in our parks now

I have always loved driving down Lowell-Larimer Road and in my lifetime, the Everett city limits sign has grown from population 40,304 to teetering on 100,000. Our city’s leaders need to allocate more of our resources toward this city’s expanding population and our overall quality of life.

We still have a window of opportunity in order to address our current and future populations needs. We have to make sure that we all have a clean and safe place to play. It is very rare that I can go to a city park and not see a venue that is overused and undermanaged. When I watch my son play ball at the Phil Johnson Ballfields, there is always a Ranger near by, but when he plays at Garfield, I’ve had to spend time breaking up fist fights in front of families that are just trying to get a break from the day. We have to manage all of our parks as if they are our greatest assets, expand them, and have enough of a presence that the patrons feel compelled to be accountable and behave.

Everett citizens ought to be able to walk through any city park without interference, obstacles or fear of others. Is that really asking too much from a city as rich as ours?

I love this town. I take pride in having grown up here, gone to its schools and raising my own family. However, the road south no longer stops at 112th, it keeps on going and stretches in every direction. It is now critical that we make sure our city is spending enough of its resources on facilities and the supervision there of all places we call common.

If you haven’t driven down Lowell-Larimer Road lately, spring is here. Go for a drive.

Cris Larson

Everett