I don’t hate the Chambers Bay golf course, however, last year the course estimates 38,000 rounds were played and required the use of $2.5 million in county funds for improvements at a cost of $64 per round.
Sprinker Recreation Center, on the other hand used $1.4 million for 124,000 uses (for the rink alone) at a cost of $11 per use. If the cost of Sprinker is divided among the total number of visitors to the park, 343,300, the total cost per visitor becomes $4 dollars per visitor.
As it is, Sprinker is attracting people from all over the county. It is the only Pierce County park that does that.
I envision two sheets of ice, a walking track, pool, weight room with cardio machines. Charge a small membership fee.
In contrast, the golf course will have good years. The maximum number of rounds of golf is 64,000. If the golf course were to provide that income it would have broken even last year, If you include the $2.5 million donation from the county. I believe that the number will average 38,000 to 40,000 rounds a year, which is where they have been so far. Please do not let this become a “Big Dig.”
The county is providing services for the residents. How are the residents best served? Who is currently being best served? Chambers Bay is serving middle-aged, upper-class men. Sprinker is serving people of all ages – 10 times as many people of all ages.
YOU SAID IT!!!! And as a neighbor to the golf course that is going to be severely impacted by the upcoming Open, I say, let the golfers bear the brunt of this financial burden! Not the taxpayers!!
Oh, and I use Sprinker too. And I’d be HAPPY to pay a fee above what I do pay for the classes I take there.
Several members of the Chambers Bay Foundation and volunteers conducted a survey and count of people and dogs that showed up last Saturday at the golf course trail complex. The totals are not yet public, but I suspect they will be before too long. All those people and dogs were there for no extra cost so it will be interesting to see how the cost of the golf course amortizes compared to Sprinker. My guess would be that it is a similar bargain.
I stand by my letter. I agree Publico, the numbers would surely be closer. Why not have equal funding? If the parks are there to serve the public, they should be funded equally. As it stands right now Chambers bay has collected over 40 million in park funds, aka Sewer funds. The council is simply acting like the upper class conservatives that they are. I voted for Roger Bush in my district…..I am a conservative. This is part of the battle with republicans….they chase the money just like democrats!!!!! They just spend it in different ways
I say “Equal pay for Equal play”……They should be funded EQUALLY!!!
It’s what important to former Co Exec Landenburg not what’s right for kids
Shame on you, Jeff. Trying to spread the cost of the rink out to include every user of Sprinker. $11.00 a visit out of tax payers pocket every time your kid goes to the rink?
Pull your head out! Fifteen parks lost service all together this year. We get ZERO dollars per visit. We have to mow the grass ourselves. Guess what, that is in addition to having already paid our taxes. Taxes that don’t go to our kid’s park, taxes that go to your kid’s skating.
How dare you ask for 20,000,000.00, when our kids don’t even have a restroom to use. Who is the REAL elitist here, Jeff?
Hey concerned father, you are getting more than you know. Sprinker is the cheapest park, for its size, in the county at just 7.5 million invested. If I lived near a park that was not being mowed…I would mow it. I am fighting for what I believe in. sprinker is the businest park in the county by almost double. I say use our money as efficiently as possible. And right now that means spending it on Sprinker. Go to a council meeting and fight for what you believe in. I think we are fighting the same battle here. Join us at http://www.friendsofsprinker.com
Don’t knock Chambers Bay til you have walked it! I was one of those people who called it Ladenburg’s Folly til I actually went there this last month. I now drive 7 miles to walk the 3 1/4 mile trail twice a week.
While walking along the Grandview portion of the trail the other day I was trying to think of the other ways that they county could have utilized the property. Camping? Well in theory yeah it would make for some awesome views of the Sound but there are trains that run through the area and security would become an issue. Open space/trails? Nice but again security at night and all that mowing. Dog Park? It’s in the works so we can eliminate that one. Private development? Would most definitely limit public access. Which brought me back to the golf course option. Yeah it’s pricey but at least it offsets the costs of all the mowing that would need to be done either way. A large portion of it is secured at night so we don’t have to worry about the homeless encampments/ meth labs that we fight in out other county/city parks. There are two meadows that can be used by the public or host events. Kite fliers are increasingly being seen in the huge central meadow, the walkway to the beach is being built, I thought that the big concrete pillars in the central meadow would make an awesome backdrop for an outdoor movie or concert.
So…I challenge the naysayers to walk the trails there, explore the meadow, and see how the community is using the space before you form your opinions about it being a complete folly or waste of taxpayer money. I know that I was wrong in my original opinion and fully admit to it.
Funny how the county doesn’t have money to keep this facility open but at the same time they can afford big gas guzzling SUV s for the police and Sheriffs to drive around in,are they too good for regular cop cars now? just the gas those things burn costs a pretty penny I”m sure,they can save several hundred thousand bucks a year just by doing that.
Funny how the county has no money to keep this facility open,especially when people pay to use it,sounds like they spent the money on something else instead of maintaining it,maybe they used it to buy big gas guzzling SUV’s for the Sheriffs and police to cruise around in,whats wrong with the regular cop cars? are they too good for those now? just the cost to put gas in those costs plenty I”m sure, the county can save several hundred thousand bucks a year just by getting rid of those.