It was revealing last week during the Mad River Valley Town Leadership meeting to see three of Waitsfield’s Select Board members fail to raise their hands in support of purchasing recreation fields for local children.
The Mad River Valley Recreation District is pursuing plans to purchase 8.5 acres of athletic fields from Mad River Industrial Park owners Dick and Laura Kingsbury for $550,000. That price includes parking for 80 cars.
First, the math: The fields appraised at $725,000. The rec district has received a $100,000 anonymous donation toward the purchase and may well receive a $275,000 grant to offset the price. Rec district and field supporters expect to be able to privately fundraise another $50,000. That brings the per town share of the fields down from $183,333 to $41,666.
Without going into the low interest rates that are available, using a simple mortgage calculator, borrowing $41,666 at 4 percent over 30 years would cost $2,388 a year. Pay the debt back over 20 years and it will cost $3,036 per year. Pay it back in 15 years is costs $3,696 per year. Adding a penny to the Waitsfield tax raises approximately $35,000 per year. For a tenth of a cent or less, Waitsfield could join Warren and Fayston in making kids a priority.
Second, kids’ health: Vermont has twin heroin and obesity epidemics. Creating healthy exercise habits in kids when they are young is important. Creating lifelong habits of exercise can help fight addiction and obesity. Where do we want to see kids? On the couch with a device in their hands? Or playing team sports with their peers? Surely we can put our money where our mouths are for local kids.
Third, the value of recreation: It is no secret that recreation is a primary economic driver for our community, whether it is downhill skiing, mountain biking, paddleboarding or hiking. Excellent recreational opportunities bring visitors and residents alike. And just like excellent schools attract families with children, so too will excellent recreational opportunities like the ones that these fields provide.
Sure Waitsfield voters or at least its select board members may have project fatigue, but that’s no reason to slight the families with kids who use these fields. That’s no reason to waste the opportunity to purchase these fields at a fair price and at a reasonable cost to taxpayers.
