PORT TOWNSEND — A committee formed to develop a strategy for the use of park facilities in Jefferson County is using a survey to determine the public’s priorities.
The Exploratory Regional Parks and Recreation Committee, which began meeting over the summer, has developed the 26-question online survey that is meant to gather demographic information along with what people think is most worthy of the limited available money.
“The purpose of the survey is to find out the interest and parameters of the general public and report to the committee, so they can make recommendations to the city and the county as to what should be supported,” said Jefferson County Parks and Recreation Director Matt Tyler.
The committee members represent the city, the county, education and the public at large.
One survey question lists five possibilities: purchasing new park or natural area land, adding new facilities to existing parkland, maintaining existing parks, natural areas and recreation facilities, offering new recreation programs and reducing fees, asking the respondent to allocate a theoretical $100 among all the options.
Another question asks if the community should consider creating a new park and recreation district, governed by an independent board with dedicated funding.
The survey cost $4,000 and was paid for from funds raised from voter-approved Proposition 1, which levied an additional 3-cent sales tax for public safety and parks services.
Tyler said the committee saved a lot of money by administering the survey online instead of using paper, though a limited amount of paper surveys are being distributed.
Proposition 1 included an agreement between the city of Port Townsend and Jefferson County for the maintenance of Memorial Field and the opening of the Port Townsend Recreation Center, which re-opened its doors July 1 after 18 months of enforced closure.
The survey is available at http://tinyurl.com/jeffcoparks and is due by Oct. 19.
The results will be tabulated and analyzed at the committee’s November meeting, according to Tyler.
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Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
