Commission discusses bond issue, plan

By JIM LAWRENCE
For the Stafford County Sun
Published: July 24, 2008

STAFFORD — A brief discussion of the Parks and Recreation facilities plan was brought up by department director Chris Hoppe at a regularly scheduled meeting of the Parks and Recreation Commission on July 17 at the Rowser Center.

Hoppe noted that the department facilities plan “would not be in conflict” with the proposed bond issue.

The facilities plan is a plan that delineates Parks and Recreation for the next fifteen years. It takes into account present facilities and those that will be needed with the rise in population.

The proposed $30 million bond issue is separate from the $70 million transportation referendum that is proposed for the November ballot.

Permission to start a fund that took revenue’s private sources for parks and recreation from the board for facility maintenance was approved by the county finance department.

Bill Hoyt, Aquia District, had proposed the idea of starting partnerships with the private sector in which certain projects could be defrayed by private donors with the exchange of signage for those patrons.

For example, John Doe Enterprises could donate money for new dugouts at the Willowmere Park ball fields. Signs on the dugout might read, “These dugouts generously built by John Doe Enterprises.“

Though other commissioners were amenable to the idea, the legality of such a system was questioned.

Normally, if money is donated by private citizens to the county, it goes directly to the general fund.

More details are forthcoming.

In a partnership with Stafford County, the Stafford Area Soccer Association (SASA) will be partially renovating soccer fields at Duff McDuff Green Memorial Park. SASA will contract the work and pay for it while Parks and Recreation will maintain the fields.

Hoppe announced that playground equipment has arrived and will be installed at recently opened Potowomeck Park.

Jim Lawrence is a contributing writer at the Stafford County Sun. Reach him at .