To the editor:

Voters have a rare opportunity to create a wonderful park in our downtown core area by voting YES on Proposition One.

The Sakai property – 23 acres, including a lake – is not an opportunity we will see again. It’s now or never, so please vote YES on this park bond!

A “YES” vote will not raise our taxes. It will provide open space and active recreational areas for the downtown.

Yes, islanders have done a marvelous job of protecting and providing critical open space outside of town, while city planning officials and developers continue to pursue high-density development seemingly everywhere in and around Winslow. Half of all islanders live in Winslow, where blacktop and rooftop spread daily. By all national statistics and standards, the town of Winslow is woefully lacking in parks and trails. This is a very important levy that needs 60 percent voter approval.

In 2001, 68 percent of Islanders said “yes” to approve an open space bond, which funded numerous parks and trails. We must vote this way again because there are no more large parcels like this in the downtown area. Two generations of the Sakai family, have stated their desire to see this land become a park by giving the citizens of Bainbridge the opportunity to purchase it at below market value.

This opportunity will not come again, so please vote yes on Prop. One: A park for the heart of our island.

NEIL C. JOHANNSEN

Retired director

Alaska State Parks, and Co-director of the 2001 Open Space Bond