To residents in the New Haven-Adams Township Parks District

Thursday, September 10th will be a historic day for the New Haven-Adams Township Parks Dept. It is the first time that we will be involved in the petition and remonstrance process and for the first time registered voters will be able to participate along with property owners. After three years of debate, the fate of Jury Pool will finally be decided. Two years ago we presented a $5.5 million in construction cost plan to replace Jury Pool to the New Haven City Council that was rejected. We reduced the plan to $4.5 million and then finally to the current $3.5 million in construction costs that will require us to borrow $4.1 million including the costs of the bond. With the median home price in New Haven at $89,152 the cost to the average household will be a $14 per year property tax increase. Jury Pool has served the area very well for 40 years but now needs to be replaced. Like many government agencies we are faced with an increased demand for services while dealing with increased costs and shrinking revenues. The Parks Department spent over $134,000 last year operating our pools and while we are providing a service we need to lessen this negative impact to our budget. Continuing to repair the pool or replace it with the same 1970 design will jeopardize operating the other 2 pools and the playground craft sheds that many children depend on in the summer. The New Jury Pool we are planning will be more efficient, have more entertainment value, encourage families to come more often, stay longer and be active. Park Departments are on the front lines when it comes to battling obesity especially in children and we need to provide facilities that encourage children to get outdoors away from computers, television and video games. Sadly when we are needed most, there are still too many federal, state and local officials along with some taxpayers who believe that parks and recreation are a frivolous and unnecessary expense.

I encourage New Haven High School students to become involved by debating this issue in the school newspaper, holding a voter registration drive and if you are 18 years or older and not registered to vote then do so. All property owners and voters in our park district should exercise their right to have a say in our community whether they are for or against the pool plan. If you would like to sign a blue petition against the pool or a yellow petition for the pool call me at 749-2212 and I will provide you with contact phone numbers for either side.

I truly believe I am doing the right thing supporting this project. I believe our Park Board is committed to providing a great community with a great park system. I believe that this is the right project at the right time. I believe that we cannot ask businesses to invest in our community if we are not willing to invest in ourselves. I believe that $1-$2 per month is a great investment in our future and I believe that for some against this pool project it has become more about the fight and not about the pool.

Believe!

Mike Clendenen
Superintendent
New Haven-Adams Township Parks Dept