The Soldotna community now has something that has been long overdue….a community playground that everyone can enjoy.  Being a parent myself, I know my family will visit the playground during the warmer months.  We were there for the opening on Sunday night.  And, just like everyone else who was at the opening, it was a time just to be happy and enjoy what was built in only one week after several years of planning. 

People also need to give a pat on the back for those donated their time and money to make this playground a reality.  I have been watching for several years the volunteers in their blue shirts at various events promoting what was only a dream.  But, with plenty of persistence and determination, this free-to-the-public, privately-funded, community playground is something everyone can enjoy and take care of in the future. 

So, why can’t this type of effort take place elsewhere.  Why do so many community projects have to turn to the State Legislature during the writing of Capital Budget, or, turn to the local municipalities to complete a project. 

For instance, in this year’s capital budget is an allotment of millions of dollars for municipal libraries.  Seward, if approved by Governor Sean Parnell, would receive $4.7 million to build their new library.  Kenai was able to raise money for its new expansion; however, it still needed to go to voters to request two million dollars in bond funding and still needed $1.5 million from the state for the completion of its expansion.  Yes, Kenai should at least be given credit for raising quite a bit of its funds through the Rasmussen Foundation and through the generosity of local citizens.  But, $4.7 million for Seward?  It must be nice library for that price.  No, I’m not picking on libraries.  There are plenty of other examples where absolute wasteful spending could have easily been avoided by taking the same route as the Community Playground group.  Domed Stadiums, whether on the Kenai Peninsula or in the Lower 48, need to be named.  In Oklahoma, T.Boone Pickens paid to have his name put on the stadium at Oklahoma State University.  The college got a new stadium and taxpayers paid nothing.

It’s plain and simple.  When it comes to issues pertaining to making communities better, we need to stop forcing this betterment down taxpayer’s throats.  We need to stop telling our State Legislators, “Well, Anchorage has the money, so why can’t we have some of the money, too.”  We need to turn that statement around to say, “We were able to raise the money, so why don’t some of the other areas do for their projects, too.”  If people and local companies really want and feel the need for something, it will happen without the need of tax dollars. 

Think About it.  - Joe Nicks

Filed under: Think About It by Joe Nicks