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Indybay Feature

Keep the American River Parkway Open!

by Dan Bacher (danielbacher [at] hotmail.com)
I urge everybody concerned about the fate of the American River Parkway to attend the budget hearing of the County Board of Supervisors on March 9. For an update on the exact time the parkway will be on the agenda, contact http://www.sarariverwatch.org/pages/1/index.htm, and click on News and Issues.
MARCH 9TH - AMERICAN RIVER PARKWAY BUDGET HEARING
Tuesday, March 9th is fast approaching and the fate of the American River Parkway, and all of the other parks and facilities managed by the Sacramento County Parks & Recreation Department, is to be decided. If funding is cut as proposed, this 5,000 acre jewel, the literal heart of the County, will rapidly tarnish, become unsafe and ultimately unusable by those of us who go to the Parkway to exercise, experience nature, gaze, reflect and refresh ourselves.

Our faces need to be seen, and our voices heard by the Board of Supervisors (BOS) on March 9th. It is imperative that we have a large turnout to let the BOS know this community understands the value of the Parkway -- as a personal retreat and a financial asset and income generator to the County of Sacramento. Our Parkway is famous across the United States. The Save the American River Association (SARA) has received many letters of support for the Parkway from out-of-town users -- from L. A. to Oregon -- in response to the December 29, 2003 front page Sacramento Bee "Parkway in Peril" article by Blair Robertson. An Oregonian wrote to SARA to express his alarm that the Parkway might be closed, as he and his family vacation in Sacramento every year, specifically to enjoy the Parkway. He said, by closing the Parkway, the County . . . "is walking over dollars to save nickels and dimes." For example, if the gates are closed, the County will not be able to collect the almost $900,000 in parking fees it receives from Parkway users annually.

WHAT YOU CAN DO
There will be various Parkway user groups and organizations, and representatives of adjacent neighborhood and homeowner associations, businesses and schools in attendance on March 9th. The more diverse the attendance the better. White name tags with blue borders and the letters K P O at the top will be handed out as you enter the hearing. K P O stands for Keep Parkway Open and we are asking attendees to add their name and affiliation (HOA, neighborhood, organization, group, etc.) and put the name tag on. We want the BOS to see we represent all facets of the community. We are united in asking them to figure out how to fund the Parkway for at least one more year, meanwhile working with the community to establish a separate and permanent funding mechanism for the Parkway. So come on down, and show your support. You don't have to speak but are welcome to. If you do speak, be sure and identify your affiliation, i.e. homeowner association, neighborhood, group, etc. I will send a reminder out on Monday, March 8th -- including the time the meeting is to begin.




DONATING TO THE PARKWAY IN PERIL FUND
ARHNA (American River Natural History Association) has set up a Parkway in Peril fund. Those wishing to make donations, 100% of which will go to the support of the American River Parkway, may send their check to:

Parkway in Peril Fund
c/o ARHNA
P.O. Box 241
Carmichael, CA 95609-0241

FOR THE MOST CURRENT UPDATES, VISIT THE SAVE THE AMERICAN RIVER ASSOCIATION (SARA) WEBSITE:
Go to http://www.sarariverwatch.org/pages/1/index.htm, and click on News and Issues


Warren Truitt
wvt [at] infomania.com

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