To the editor:

Bainbridge Island has an exciting opportunity to purchase 23 acres of open space for a major new park in Winslow – the heart of our island.  Please vote YES on the ballot coming to your mailboxes around Jan. 23. This is our last chance to save the last major undeveloped parcel in Winslow.

Of course, some people claim that the price is too high since it exceeds the current assessed value of the land. We urge voter to consider the

facts – don’t be misled.

Assessed values vary widely from fair market value, particularly for large parcels of raw land. For example, just north of the Sakai property, Harrison Hospital recently purchased 3.02 acres assessed at $448,550. The price actually paid was $1,750,000 – almost four times the assessed value.

This is typical for raw land. The Sakai price was determined by an independent detailed MAI appraisal, which is the only accurate way to

determine fair market value.

This park is clearly affordable. Prior bonds for Gazzam Lake and Grand Forest were paid off in 2014, so a “yes” vote on this measure will not cause any increase in your taxes over 2014 parks district bond levies. And the actual cost of the bonds will be just 8 cents per $1,000 of assessed value — just $36/year for a house assessed at $450,000.

Don’t let this special parcel become just another mega-housing development.

Let’s create a central park in Winslow that we can all be proud of.

BRUCE WEILAND AND JASON SHUTT

Co-Chairs of People for Parks