Imagine it’s a beautiful, sunny day. It’s just the right temperature outside with only a slight, cool breeze. Freshly mowed grass is green, leaves cast the perfect amount of shade, and the air feels light and fresh. This natural perfection is often found in parks. When they need to walk their dog, a path to bike down, or a playground to entertain their kids, people rely on parks for entertainment. But if County Executive Charlie Dooley’s plan to close 23 of 50 active parks in St. Louis is approved, all of this will be no more. Closing parks may save a substantial amount of money in next year’s budget but is not the most efficient method.

Bonnie Lorenz, a spokeswoman at the public meeting about parks, said that people who can’t afford to go to places for entertainment rely on parks as their source of fun.

Parks also serve as a place for sports and physical activity.  For many students, the beginning of their athletic careers start from park clubs like the Olivette Recreational League. Parks are also used for fun events such as Parties in the Park, Creve Coeur Days or the Humane Society’s Bark in the Park.

Another benefit of parks is that they encourage people to exercise. “The Benefits of Parks” by Erica Gies said that playgrounds, paths, and trails keep Americans and their communities fit and healthy. A study also found that people with access to parks are more inclined to participate in physical activity; causing the Center for Disease and Control to call for more playgrounds and parks, not fewer.

Parks are a part of our community, and just like schools, they contribute to the value of houses in the area. Kathleen Logan Smith told the Post-Dispatch that people put a higher value on houses which are located near parks.

The closure of parks also would affect wildlife. For example, some propose to sell Lone Elk Park located in Valley Park, which provides a habitat for the elk, deer and bison that live in it. Taking away yet another safe haven for wildlife is not only distasteful but morally wrong.

Walter Crawford, the executive director of the World Bird Sanctuary said that it’s our job to protect the habitat for the animals. He also said that it was up to the community to decide whether these parks should be sold because they belong to the community’s citizens.

Luckily, a majority of the County Parks Board has stated that they will not approve Dooley’s proposal unless it is seriously revised. In addition, in an attempt to prevent the closure of the 23 parks, one board member, Bob Nelson, has suggested a two cent raise in the county’s park tax rate.

Parks are a luxury that the community has taken for granted for many years. If we want to keep these parks afloat we have to support them financially. It’s up to the people in the community to contribute to the parks and keep the spirit and services that they provide alive. #