Official response from Parks superintendent on Delridge

Here is the official response to the SPAC’s earlier letter, from Parks Superintendent Timothy Gallagher on the Delridge funding situation.  It’s not pretty, but I’m not sure anyone could have made a difference here.  I have to say…  Timothy Gallagher has brought a refreshing sense of transparency to the the process by responding directly to the skaters and doing his best to understand our point of view.  Too bad we have no money now that we have the support we need.

——-

November 26, 2008

Dear Mr. Barth:

Thank you for writing about the Delridge Skatepark, which Parks and Recreation is developing as an element of our Skatepark Plan Implementation capital project. It was our intention to design this project in 2008 and construct it in 2009.

During budget deliberations, the City found that revenues to the City from real estate excise taxes, which had been earmarked to pay for this work, have been drastically reduced due to the huge reduction in real estate activity. Although we are proceeding with the design work this year, the construction funds were not appropriated in the 2009 capital budget.

Parks regards this budget decision as a delay in the Delridge Skatepark project rather than as a cancellation. We understand the importance of providing facilities that our youth can use to engage in healthy recreational activities. We, too, were very disappointed to have to delay this project, and we still anticipate building it as soon as funding becomes available. We will work hard to make that happen.

Thank you for your continued advocacy on behalf of the skating community.

Sincerely,
Timothy Gallagher
Superintendent, Seattle Parks and Recreation