PAGE A6, KEIZERTIMES, MARCH 5, 2021
PARKS,
continued from Page A1
COMFORT (SHADE,
DRINKING FOUNTAINS,
BENCHES) – 28%
SIGNS OF ACTIVITY,
SPORTS, LARGE GROUPS,
JOYFUL NOISE – 30%
LARGE VARIETY OF
ACTIVITIES – 35%
as Bob Newton Family Park,
Meadows Park and Wallace
House Park.
“These sites serve individu-
als, children, and families with
Residents also wanted to see
features such as playgrounds,
more support for sports and fi t-
picnic areas, sports courts, and
ness activities and community
open grass areas for leisure and
events such as festivals and fairs
play,” the report states.
in local parks.
When it came to the ques-
“We’re hearing more natural
tion
of what Keizer would like
spaces, but with a variety of ac-
to see in recreation program-
tivities, is important,” said Cindy
ming,
Keizeites
Mendoza, a spokesper-
wanted to see sports,
son for Portland-based
TOP 5 PRIORITIES
fi tness and health
MIG, the fi rm con-
0%
5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40%
programs, commu-
sulting on the project.
nity gatherings and
“Right behind that was
natural interpreta-
attending communi-
REPAIR
&
REPLACE
tion elements.
ty events, which tested
OLDER FEATURES – 38%
Mendoza was ret-
even more highly than
icent to recommend
MORE PATHS
playing fi eld sports or
& TRAILS — 37%
that the city leap
watching sports in the
head-fi rst into a full
city.”
INCREASE ROUTINE
recreation program,
MAINTENANCE — 36%
Regarding
play-
the type required if
grounds,
Mendoza
BETTER VARIETY
the city decides to
suggested the city look
OF FEATURES — 29%
pursue a large in-
into equipment that
MORE/IMPROVED SPORTS
door recreation fa-
would serve teenagers
COURTS/FIELDS — 25%
cility in Keizer Rap-
and young adults. There
ids Park. A facility of
is currently a dearth ac-
that type was orig-
tivities aimed at those
inally envisioned
groups in Keizer parks.
for Keizer’s only
A number of companies 50%
DESIRED QUALITIES
regional park.
offer “fi tness courts” that
“Those types of
include both workout
facilities often end
and play stations (think 40%
up being subsidized
Ninja Warrior-type fun
by the city. Some
with less actual danger).
smaller cities start
Keizer Little League 30%
with a very small
Park, which will be in-
move, such as a
cluded in the city’s mas-
part-time recreation
ter plan for the fi rst time 20%
coordinator who
ever, arose as a point of
is recruiting either
confl ict for survey re-
10%
contract providers
spondents.
or other partners
“When we asked
or non-profi ts to
about Keizer Little
0%
provide activities,
League Park specifi cally,
events and pro-
the second most popular
grams in your parks,” Mendoza
response was that no improve- game of catch in.
The survey did not specif- said.
ments are needed,” Mendoza
Residents ages 35-44 were
said. “However, it has a number ically ask about respondents’
of issues that, if the city had to satisfaction with park funding the top responders to the survey,
take over that site. It would be sources and a $4 service fee at- representing about a third of the
an enormous cost to the city. tached to utility bills, but Men- total. Nearly 80% identifi ed as
The park would not be up to doza and others seemed to ex- white, about 98% spoke English
city standards or ADA accessi- trapolate the response to such at home. More than 40% of re-
bility codes, or even the high questions from a single meeting spondents had no children liv-
maintenance standards that with a single neighborhood as- ing in the household and more
Robert Johnson (Keizer parks sociation. The answer that group than 60% of respondents live
west of River Road North.
supervisor) has shown across the gave was: no new taxes or fees.
“On one hand, we have a ‘no
parks.”
Respondents, by and large, new funding’ message. On the
were complimentary of the state other hand, they’re acknowl-
of Keizer parks. About 70% said edging that there are some de-
they were either very satisfi ed fi ciencies in parks that would
or somewhat satisfi ed with the need increased funding in order
Submit a death notice or
obituary by sending an email
number of parks and their con- to address,” Mendoza said.
to: editor@keizertimes.com
In light of that response, the
dition.
MIG
report
suggests
focusing
Despite the customer sat-
isfaction level, the report also renewed efforts in some of the
found that several areas of the large neighborhood parks, such
NATURE – 42%
city were underserved or had
no reasonable access to a park
that served multiple interests.
Several large gaps were found
throughout the city. Some of
the areas do have local parks,
but access is either diffi cult,
such as Northridge Park, or the
local park can only serve one
function, such a Bair Park – pri-
marily forested park that visitors
would struggle to even play a
COST,
continued from Page A1
around Oregon
Wheatland
Ferry toll
increasing
Beginning March 15, the
toll to use the Wheatland Ferry
for most vehicles will increase
to $3.
The current rate for vehicles
less than 22 feet long is $2. The
toll for vehicles between 22 feet
and 42 feet long will rise from
$4 to $6 at the Wheatland fer-
ry. Vehicles longer than 42 feet,
will pay $9, up from $6.
Tolls for bicycles will remain
$1 and pedestrians will still ride
for free.
According to a county press
release, the toll increases won’t
make the ferry program profi t-
able but are instead intended to
keep losses manageable and the
cost for commuters low. It’s the
fi rst rate bump for the Wheat-
land Ferry in 12 years.
Schrader votes
against federal
pandemic relief
Rep. Kurt Schrader, Keiz-
er’s representative in the U.S.
House of Representatives, was
one of two Democrats to vote
against a largely popular pan-
demic relief bill on Saturday,
Feb. 27.
The bill, which was ap-
proved in a 219-212 vote,
would pour new cash into the
pockets of individuals, busi-
nesses, states and cities. Nei-
ther Schrader nor his offi ce
issued any public statement
regarding his opposition.
Schrader had previously
signaled opposition to more
than $300 per week in addi-
tional support for those on
unemployment benefi ts as a
result of the pandemic. He of-
fered no public statement re-
garding the reasoning for his
vote Saturday, Feb. 27.
In a December Zoom call
with members of the Keiz-
er Chamber of Commerce,
Schrader said, “Six hundred
dollars a week was way above
what a lot of folks are actually
earning. It was a disincentive to
go back to work. If you’re in a
tough situation like this, every-
one has to cut back and man-
age things a little better. But
they shouldn’t do it without a
little bit of help from the state
or the federal government.”
The new bill includes an
additional $400 per week and
extends the assistance through
August.
In late 2020, a Yale Univer-
sity study found that workers
who received the unemploy-
ment subsidy, even if it result-
ed in a boosted take-home pay,
returned to work at a similar
rate to those who had small-
er increases in take-home pay.
The study concluded that the
extra money kept the nation
from falling further into eco-
nomic ruin.
The Senate must approve
the measure before any of the
money fl ows out of Washing-
ton, D.C.
two local haulers and another
$7,100 in overtime pay to
operate the site.
The
council
granted
approval to close the site
Sunday, March 7. The fi nal
hours will be Saturday, March
6, and Sunday, March 7, 10
a.m. to 5 p.m. It costs between
$1,000 and $1,500 per day to
operate the collection service
and Lawyer said there is more
and more greenery being
deposited that doesn’t appear
to be a result of storm damage.
“One of the guys at the site
talked with a young man who
had brought in three loads of
arbor vitae that his father was
paying him to take out of the
yard,” Lawyer said.
Councilor Dan Kohler
countered that some such
work is needed as a result of
the storm and asked how city
employees determined what
counted as storm debris.
“It’s one example of people
taking advantage of what is
offered,” said Lawyer. “As a
homeowner, I’m not saying
I wouldn’t have done the
same thing, but it’s still taking
advantage.”
Another reason for closing
the lot is that youth sports
activities will begin ramping
up in the coming weeks and
the space will be needed for
parking.
Additional
expenses
included:
overtime
for
monitoring water systems
during
power
outages
($1,800) and replacement of
fences after damage from trees
($25,000).
crossword
death notice
Janet Sharon
Wentzel
Janet Sharon Wentzel,
born in Great Falls, Mont.
Feb. 20, 1954, passed away on
February 24, 2021 in Keizer,
Ore., keizerchapel.com
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