Voters weigh green-lighting $2 million towards upkeep, expansion at El Paso County parks

Supporters of ballot measure 1A in El Paso County say it’s not a tax increase, rather a great opportunity to ensure the county’s parks get the upkeep and they need.

1A would allocate $2 million the county already has to go to a dozen park improvement and expansion projects.

“When times are tough, people really rely on their parks,” Susan Davies, the executive director of Open Trails and Space Coalition said. “They rely on free tennis courts or free playgrounds or trails, so this would do some amazing things in El Paso County.”

There is a surplus in county coffers and now that money could go to these recreation spots or a little more than eight dollars go back into taxpayers’ pockets.

“They have millions of dollars in the city, county and the state that they spend on parks every year,” Douglas Bruce, an opponent of 1A said. They don’t need your tax refund, they don’t need your last nickel, you should vote ‘NO’ and keep that money for yourself.”

The $2 million will not only go to improvements and expansions at existing parks,
it would also help build a brand new park in Falcon, the first of it’s kind in that community.