Since Sammamish incorporated in 1999, city leaders have forged creative partnerships to build all-weather sports fields at Eastlake and Skyline High Schools, new hiking trails, a popular skateboard park, Ebright Creek Park and more.

But information from public input, surveys, and advisory committees shows that Sammamish citizens need even more parks and ball fields to meet the current demand. In response, our City Council has put together a package of recreation improvements that offers us the opportunity on Nov. 4 to make it all happen.

There are two parts to this package: Proposition 1 is a $19 million bond that would pay to buy and build the new facilities. Proposition 2 is an annual levy of $310,000 to pay for the ongoing program and operation costs of these improvements. Both the bond and levy must pass for these changes to take effect.

What is covered by the bond?

Many different projects were considered before the City Council decided on a variety of improvements that will reach everyone in Sammamish at an affordable cost.

• Recreation Center: After the city purchases the current library, the Boys & Girls Club will renovate the building and offer: full-sized gym, classrooms, art studio, games room, teaching kitchen, computer lab and recording studio. With one-third of Sammamish citizens under 18, this new facility will be a tremendous resource for our teens and also include programs for seniors, preschoolers and the general community.

• Ball Fields: Through a partnership with the Issaquah School District, the upper ball fields at Pine Lake Middle School will be upgraded with synthetic turf and lights for all-year play by school and community soccer, lacrosse, football and Little League baseball and softball teams. This new facility will help alleviate the unmet demand for practice and game slots for youth and adult sports.

• Sammamish Landing: With contributions from the city of Redmond and in partnership with King County, the city will create a waterfront park along the northeast shore of Lake Sammamish. Amenities will include picnic areas, canoe and kayak pullouts, public restroom, habitat restoration, swimming areas and limited parking. City residents and waterfront trail users will finally have access to Lake Sammamish in their own community.

• East Sammamish Park: This popular park behind Margaret Mead Elementary School will be upgraded with a spray park for young children, playground improvements, parking lot expansion, better walking trail to the school and safety improvements to Southeast 16th.

• West Beaver Lake Trail: A new, soft-surface trail will be added along West Beaver Lake Drive connecting Beaver Lake Park to the Beaver Lake and Hazel Wolf Wetlands Preserves and Soaring Eagle Park.

• Land Acquisition: The City will purchase land for future development of a park in the northeast quadrant of Sammamish.

What is the Levy (Proposition 2) for?

The levy will pay for new programs and classes at the Recreation Center as well as additional services and operations costs for the new parks, trails, and ball fields.

So what’s the bottom line?

If approved by Sammamish voters, the bond and levy will cost the owners of an average home ($600,000) $108 per year, or $9 per month. That’s about two gallons of gas at today’s prices. You might just save that much gas every month by staying on the Plateau for a soccer game or play time at the park.

The answer is “YES!”

Propositions 1 and 2 offer Sammamish citizens an attractive array of recreation improvements for just pennies a day. Let’s invest in Sammamish. Let’s add new and improved parks and recreation facilities that meet the needs of all our citizens. Let’s ensure that our community remains a great place to live and raise our families.

On Nov. 4, vote twice for Sammamish Parks! (For more information, visit www.sammparks.com)

Hank Klein and Kelly Munn are co-chairs of the Vote Twice for Samm Parks campaign. Klein is also the chair of the city Parks Commission.