Kingston's Village Green needs a parks board

KINGSTON — A measure to create a park district for Kingston’s Village Green is poised to make the August primary ballot.

Now the Village Green Foundation, which has organized the metropolitan park district campaign, is seeking candidates to fill a five-member board that will manage the park district if it’s approved by voters. The board will be elected on the same Aug. 17 ballot as the park district measure.

Kitsap County Elections Manager Dolores Gilmore said park district supporters have until May 25 to file a ballot measure. Board candidates would file between June 7 and June 11.

If the park district was not approved the election of board members would simply be voided.

Board members would oversee park district funds and would hold regular public meetings.

The park district would pay for maintenance and programs at a planned community center off West Kingston Road. The center would include activity rooms, space for a Boys and Girls Club and a branch of the Kitsap Regional Library.

The park district could legally levy a property tax of up to $0.75 per $1,000 of assessed home value. Supporters say they plan to levy between 10 and 15 cents per $1,000 of value.

Volunteers ran a signature campaign over the winter in support of a ballot measure and turned in a 1,250-signature petition to the county in February. The county Auditor’s office certified the signatures on the petition, Gilmore said. The petition was also verified as sufficient support for a ballot measure by the state Boundary Review Board for Kitsap County.

Plans for the proposed community center are moving forward as well. Schematic drawings drafted by Miles Yanick and Company will be displayed at a public gathering in Kingston April 26 (see the box above for more information).

The Village Green Foundation did not receive a state funding request it made this year but continues to seek grants for construction money.

Contact North Kitsap Herald North End Reporter Tad Sooter at tsooter@northkitsapherald.com or 360-779-4464.

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