On the April 28th Special Election ballot, voters are being asked to renew bond funding for our Tacoma Parks. The funds generated would be used to fix outdated or broken facilities, make parks safer and easier to use, increase greenspace in our city and protect our parks and waterways so people can enjoy them for many years to come.

The funds collected would help pay for more than 100 improvement projects, such as repairing old playgrounds and spraygrounds, making parks easier to access for people of all ages, redeveloping the 48-year-old People’s Community Center in Hilltop, and making important updates to preserve the Center at Norpoint and STAR Center, and preserving waterways, trails, and other neighborhood green spaces.

Under Proposition 1, funds can only be used for construction projects that involve updates, improvements, renovations, and replacements. This spending is strictly controlled by state law and is subject to intense oversight, including audits and financial reports that will all be shared publicly.

 No. This bond will maintain the current level of taxes paid by homeowners as previous bond debt gets paid off. Most households would pay about $250 per year for the next 20 years — the same amount they have been paying for the previous bond that is about to expire.

Many system assets -- including playgrounds, spraygrounds, sport fields and courts, and People's Community Center, among others -- have reached the end of their lifespans and require extra daily maintenance to keep them functioning. Without these funds, critical renovations and replacements would have to wait. That will make the problems worse and cost more money. Some assets could be removed for safety reasons, with no funds available for replacement.

The bond would pay for better lighting, necessary playground maintenance, and clearer views in parks. When parks are well taken care of, more people visit them. And when more people are around, parks tend to be safer for everyone.