In a sometimes intense and acrimonious exchange of views over issues as varied as low income housing, government accountability, and city infrastructure, candidates for mayor and city council took the opportunity to talk about Rapid City’s parks, including the potential for including requirements for park land and open space in a new comprehensive plan that will guide the city’s growth.
At Thursday night’s forum sponsored by Friends and Democracy in Action, Mark Kirkeby, running to replace Mayor Sam Kooiker, said that Rapid City’s park system “is a reflection of our character.” He said if citizens wanted the city to provide incentives to developers to include parks in new subdivisions, they should ask for such a policy.
Kooiker pointed out that Rapid City faces a shortage of lots for new development construction now, but that would change and he supported a requirement to provide park and open space within new developments. “I introduced an ordinance to do so when I was an alderman, but it was ahead of its time and didn’t fly,” Kooiker said.
Both mayoral candidates raised concerns about maintaining existing parks. Kooiker said Parks and Recreation was elevated to department status in the recent past, and the city had to insure it has the money to do its job. Kirkeby criticized deterioration at Vikki Powers Memorial Park, which was constructed by volunteers from 2009 to 2010 on city owned land, and also had harsh words for the “half million dollar bathroom” at Founders Park.
Kooiker highlighted parks as one of the key components to preserving Rapid City’s natural environment, particularly preserving the flood plain and promoting public private partnerships like the Hansen-Larsen Memorial Park. He cited expanded recycling and protecting area water supplies through state oversight and regulation as other key issues. Kirkeby said the key to sustaining the area environment was to “take care of what we have and what we’ve built.”
City council candidates were in agreement on some parks issues, including the value of the park system, the need to promote it as a selling point for economic development, but to preserve the greenway itself. Ward 4 alderman John Roberts emphasized the quality of life value of the parks, while his challenger, former alderman Lloyd La Croix, talked about recreation centers and sports complexes as key components in serving the city’s youth. Ward 5 incumbent Ron Sasso discussed the potential for using the new comprehensive plan as a tool to encourage more park and open space and encouraged park supporters to weigh in on the issues as the plan is written. Challenger Brad Estes acknowledged the importance of quality of life amenities such as parks and trails, but put more emphasis on repair and maintenance of Rapid City’s crumbling infrastructure.
Candidates for school board, whose debate was considerably more collegial, also made the parks connection. Area 6 school board candidate Robert Cook talked about the importance of making sports participation available for boys and girls as early as elementary school. Incumbent school board member Jeff Nelson pointed out that the district provides a clearinghouse through Partnership Rapid City to connect students and non-profits that provide opportunities for outdoor education or service projects.
For a list of parks related questions fielded by the candidates at the forum, click here.