In the upcoming local election Helena voters will have the opportunity to cast their vote in support of a vibrant community parks system.

Supporters of this measure include the Helena-Lewis & Clark County Parks Board, Helena Skate Park Improvement Group, Helena Softball Association, Great Northern Town Center, Exploration Works, the Lion's Club Swim Team, Helena Legion Baseball Teams, Helena Brewers, S.A.V.E., Climb Helena, and numerous individuals.

These organizations, under the banner of G.O. Helena Parks, ask you to help maintain some of Helena's most important recreational opportunities -- and help build the future of our central parks: Centennial Park, Kindrick-Legion Field and Memorial Park Pool.

Existing amenities such as Memorial Park Pool, Kindrick-Legion and the skate park are already paid for and must be maintained and updated to protect our earlier public investment, enables us to continue reaping their dividends, and is the responsible thing to do.

Based on feedback from the City Commission, Parks Board, stakeholders and the Centennial Parks Master Plan Survey the bond brings about the following maintenance and improvements:

-- Memorial Park Pool is one of our parks system's gems. It has been one of the busiest Helena parks since it was built in 1972. While the city performs cyclical maintenance on the pool complex, many of the physical systems that keep the pool running are reaching the end of their functional life and need to be replaced. A little over half the money to be spent on the pool is for needed repairs that will keep the existing facility open and able to serve the public during our hot summers.

The other half of funding will support new features, which will attract more users and increase revenue. New features include a zero-depth kiddy pool, a double flume waterslide, plunge pool, swimming lane and teaching area. The Helena Parks Department projects that the extra revenue generated by the new features, and the money saved by efficient new equipment and better physical plant will reduce the city's maintenance costs for the pool.

-- Kindrick-Legion Field. This 1930s stadium is known far and wide for its old-fashioned grandstand and view of Montana sunsets. The bond would replace failing light posts and outdated lighting with energy-efficient fixtures. It also would provide ball-field repair, improvements to weathered wood bleachers and damaged seating; updates to the clubhouses; resurface the parking lots; and ADA compliant accessibility improvements.

-- Centennial Park, Helena's central park, is easily accessible from all parts of Helena. The enhancements proposed include improved youth soccer fields; four additional competition-level softball fields, a concession building with restrooms, expansion of the skate park, a dog park, bouldering wall and climbing area, a "freeride" bike course, an additional playground, and trails and picnic spots throughout the park.

The plan will complete the transformation of the old city dump into a recreation destinationwith new and progressive recreation features that will be used for generations to come. The estimates utilized in the Centennial Park proposal include primarily the "hardscape" or infrastructure for the park -- trails, topsoil, landscaping, and the initial construction of facilities. The success of the bond would put the city and stakeholders in the position to leverage bond dollars against grants for public works and recreation for more expansive improvements that would augment local taxpayer investment.

Some of these funding sources such as the Federal Community Transportation Enhancement Program (CTEP) are distributed by the city and could be channeled into Centennial Park to upgrade the basic amenities. For example, CTEP dollars could be used to upgrade the new decomposed granite trails to an asphalt surface.

Another source for augmenting bond dollars is the Land and Water Conservation Fund administered by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. These funds are awarded to municipalities for outdoor public recreation purposes. Such funding could, for example, enable the city to go beyond construction of a single climbing boulder to construct additional climbing terrain that would accommodate more users who might climb at different skill levels.

Skate park stakeholders have already raised $20,000 to supplement funding that would come from the city through this bond.

All this can be done if you help support passage of the $7.85 million general obligation citywide bond issue this October. Although that seems like a lot of money, the bottom line is that this investment will cost a typical homeowner less than $12 per year (see Web site for details). The payoff is quality public recreation facilities on par with what other Montana communities have established and what Helenans expect.

In our communication with the public and testimonial and City Commission hearings the clear message is that we need an expanded park system with diverse recreational opportunities. In an age of childhood obesity and increasing numbers of retiring-but-active baby boomers the success of this bond is important. Not only will it provide us with fun and recreation, its passing will be a clear indicator of Helenans' pride in their community. Please join us in supporting the passage of this bond issue. You may find additional information on our Web site at www.GOHelenaParks.org.