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Lighted fields fall to other priorities By TONY BOOM ASHLAND � Plans to light a ball field at North Mountain Park will be pushed back at least a year as higher-priority parks projects rose to the top of next year�s proposed budget. Parks and Recreation commissioners chose use available funding to complete Calle Guanajuato restoration and enhancements, finish neighborhood parks, upgrade soccer and ball fields and deal with water problems in Lithia Park�s two duck ponds. In December, parks commissioners adopted a plan to light one field this year despite protests by park neighbors, environmentalists and astronomers that the project would result in late-night disturbances, affect wildlife in the park�s natural areas and brighten the night sky. Sports enthusiasts say the lighting is needed to allow more time for practice and games. The commission had planned to light one field per year over the next three years. It also placed a 9:30 p.m. time limit on lighting, and prohibited lighting the fields on Sundays and Mondays. Installing lights on the three fields is estimated to cost $210,000. Commissioner Sally Jones said she hopes the city could start lighting the fields within the next five years. Changes in property tax administration also have affected the park�s budget. As a result of Measure 50, passed in 1997, the park commission�s taxing authority was rolled into the city�s overall taxing ability. Those changes limit the total levy from the city and parks commission. Jones and Commission Chairwoman Jo Anne Eggers say the changes reduce the amount of money parks might otherwise have. Jones fears it could result in the department having only enough money for maintenance. The parks and recreation budget for capital outlays falls from $450,000 in 2000-2001 to $265,700 in the 2001-2002 proposed budget. In addition the parks capital improvement fund drops from $475,00 this fiscal year to $372,300 next year. Measure 50 also gives the City Council an opportunity to use what was formerly parks money for other city expenses. Eggers said a one-time arrangement has the parks department forgoing traditional reimbursement from the city general fund for maintenance of planters on city property. "We have a whole list of things we think would benefit the community," said Eggers. "But we just don�t see the money to cover them." Unless the community is willing to pay for parks through a levy or tells the council it wants more money spent on parks, the commission will have to be very selective, said Eggers. The commission this year will look at ways to increase funding for parks. "It�s a little different territory," said Eggers. "We haven�t laid out possibilities on the table." Part of a city tax on restaurant meals supports acquisition of parks and open space, but that levy goes away in 2010. Currently 20 percent of that tax goes to the acquisitions. "We�re checking into the community to see where their values lie as to parks," said Eggers. "My guess is they will support parks capital expenditures." Reach Ashland bureau reporter Tony Boom at 482-4651, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.