Editor,

We write this letter to thank the South Whidbey community for the support of the South Whidbey Parks and Recreation District 2019 maintenance and operations levy that was certified yesterday at 75.93 percent approval.

The overwhelming support of this levy indicates to our staff and commissioners that we are on the right path with our efforts to maintain and improve the parks, facilities and recreation programs for our community.

In addition to your support and passage of maintenance and operations funding, South Whidbey Parks and Recreation has been pursuing additional sources of funds for projects within the district. We have just executed an agreement with the Washington State Recreation Conservation Office on the grant we have been awarded for the purchase of the campground property and phase one of campground construction.

This agreement will allow us to proceed with the beginning stages of permitting and development on the project soon.

In other additional efforts, last week two of our commissioners visited Olympia and presented our applications for additional grants. If successful, our applications will provide $1,563,220 toward ongoing projects.

Two grants would provide $1,000,000 of funding for phase two of the campground, the construction of a bathroom/shower facility including water, power and septic systems. Two additional grants would fund $563,220 toward the purchase of 40 acres of forest land with existing trails located behind the primary and elementary schools.

For more information on our current and future plans, please visit our website at swparks.org to sign up for our e-newsletter and view our 2018-23 comprehensive plan, or follow us on Facebook for more information on programs, events and happenings in the parks.

Thank you again for your vote of confidence this year; the South Whidbey Parks and Recreation District staff and commissioners appreciate the support.

We will continue to strive to provide the best in recreation programs and parks for our community.

Commissioners and staff

South Whidbey Parks and Recreation District