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About Keizertimes. (Salem, Or.) 1979-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 18, 2015)
PAGE A10, KEIZERTIMES, SEPTEMBER 18, 2015 PARKS: ‘We need to make parks a higher priority’ (Continued from pg. A1) Walsh had a key to the house, giving most tour mem- bers their fi rst look inside the building that used to be the park’s caretaker home. The caretaker moved into an ad- jacent home a few years ago due to conditions inside the Charge house. “The current plan is a sup- port building or educational building,” Walsh said. “One of the big questions is do we expand the building, or make it two buildings? Do we keep what we have, or tear it down?” Refurbished Christmas lights are stored in the ga- rage, with Clark pointing out money saved by that process could be reappropriated in the spring by the Keizer Budget Committee. At Northview Terrace Park, the basketball court is in poor condition, thus the reason for that park to be included. “Without maintenance, things get to this condition,” said Robert Johnson, parks supervisor for the city. “This is too far gone and needs to be torn out. We need to invest- ment money so things don’t get to this level.” Walsh emphasized the point. “This is what happens when we don’t invest in our parks,” Walsh said. “We are starting to lose our assets. We need to do more, but we need more money or else parks will crumble away.” Councilor Brandon Smith, who was chair of the Parks Board last year, said advocates for each park in the city need to be identifi ed. Councilor Roland Herrera, who was also on the Parks Board last year, volunteered to help fi nd neighborhood park advocates. At Bob Newton Park, Johnson said the court needs to be resurfaced before getting to the condition of North- view. An Eagle Scout painted a shelter, while a slide was re- placed last week. Meadows was the fi nal park on the tour and included mainly because it hadn’t been visited in quite a while as part of the tour. “The bottom line is we need to encourage the budget committee that our mission is to make sure no one regrets raising their family in Keizer,” Walsh said. “The biggest bang for the buck is in the parks.” Parks Board member JT Hager agreed. “People love their parks,” Hager said. “People use them and use them a lot. The mon- ey is well spent. The challenge is we need to maintain what we have. If we don’t maintain what we have, we will start losing them. Robert has done a yeoman’s job.” Smith noted there was talk of long-term funding options a couple of years ago, but those discussions were abruptly shut down by former mayor Lore Christopher. “We need to get that going again,” Smith said of the dis- cussions. Clark noted the city’s per- manent tax base can’t be add- ed to. “We have to be creative,” she said. “Maybe we can ask voters if the time is right.” Walsh pushed for such con- versations to get going. “In the next three to four years we need to fi nd more money for parks,” Walsh said. “We need to make parks a higher priority. Police is 80 percent of the (general fund) budget. Don’t get me wrong; police is a priority. But it means we’re fi ghting for 4 percent of the budget.” Hager put the need for more funding into simple terms. “We don’t want to lose what we have,” Hager said. Frosh football falls 30-8 McNary High School’s freshman football team lost 30-8 in a non-league game at Westview High School Thurs- day, Sept. 10. The loss leaves McNary at 1-1 on the season. McNary took the opening kickoff and moved the ball down fi eld led by a 24-yard pass from Nigel Harris to Ja- cob Jackson. After an intercep- tion, it took Westview one play to score on an 82-yard run from scrimmage for a 6-0 lead. After a Jackson interception and a McNary fumble, West- view extended its lead to 12-0 on a 63-yard run. In the second quarter, fol- lowing interceptions, West- view scored on passes of 20 and 35 yards to take 24-0 lead into the locker room at half- time. After a scoreless third quar- ter, Westview continued its big play barrage with a 75-yard punt return for a touchdown and a 30-0 lead. McNary responded with a drive in the fourth quarter led by quarterback David Al- len and running back Boston Smith. Allen threw a 51-yard pass during the drive to re- ceiver Brayden Lyda on a catch-and-run. Smith rushed fi ve times for 32 yards. The drive culminated with Allen punching it through from the one-yard line. His run for a two-point conversion made the fi nal score 30-8. Jackson led the Celtics with 72 yards rushing, 40 yards re- ceiving, two interceptions and fi ve tackles. “We played better than last week despite the loss,” said Ted Anagnos, McNary head coach. A B A: Mayor Cathy Clark pretends to shoot a basketball while she and others visit Northview Terrace Park during Monday evening’s annual Parks Tour. B: Members of the Keizer City Council and the Keizer Parks and Recreation Advisory Board talk things over while at Bob Newton Park on Monday evening. C: Keizer Parks Board member Richard Walsh (far left) opens the back door of the Charge house to fellow Parks Board members as well as Keizer City Councilors during Monday evening’s annual Parks Tour. The Charge house, vacant for several years, is in Keizer Rapids Park, where the tour started. A group has been formed to discuss the future of the house. Photos by Craig Murphy/ KEIZERTIMES C You Never Know What You’ll Find At A Collectors West Gun & Knife Show! 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