CAMPAIGN - Mildred Kanipe Park

     Initially, I wasn't going to post a position on this subject, since the issue will presumably be decided before the new Douglas County Commissioner takes office next January. But after viewing the fundraising "thermometer" at the intersection of Highway 99 and Oak Street in Oakland this afternoon, I decided to jot down a few thoughts.
     The thermometer says the Friends of Mildred Kanipe Park has raised $45,000 toward their $65,000 goal. The money would be used to open a campground at Mildred Kanipe Park east of Oakland (the former ranch on Elkhead road, not the small Mildred Kanipe Park on Locust Street in Oakland). The campground would presumably generate money to operate the park, so that Douglas County wouldn't be forced to harvest trees on the park in order to raise the money.
     The bottom line is that Mildred Kanipe Park, like so many other county entities, need to become self-sustaining so that Douglas County Commissioners don't have to take limited money from the general fund in order to pay for park operations. The current Board of Commissioners has hinted that they either need to harvest about 20 acres of trees from the 1,000+ acre ranch to build the campground....or else the county could be forced to sell the park.
     This issue has created so much controversy, that a group of citizens stepped forward to offer to raise the money on their own....and consequently save the trees AND the park for public use. County commissioners were generous enough to give the group some time to try and raise the money, and it looks like, so far, they have a good chance at succeeding.
      CITIZEN SOLUTIONS ARE THE BEST
     It's nice to see a group of people come together for a common cause. It's nice to see a group of people doing their best to help county government provide a popular service. I applaud the efforts of those who are donating their time and effort to raise money to save a county service. The citizens have turned a controversy into a (potential) celebration. And, as a bonus, they're (potentially) spared the Douglas County Commissioners from making an unpopular decision on whether or not to cut down 20 acres of tree. Either way, whatever decision that would have been reached would have upset a significant portion of the general public.