THANK YOU!!!!! I don't know that there is a lot to say other than... WE WON. Bigtime. Official results are:

PARKS PROPOSAL - FOR 1140 AGAINST 390
TRAILS PROPOSAL- FOR 1141 AGAINST 395

That equals 74.5% to 25.5%

Seriously, great work to everyone that helped. The people of Conway stepped up and made the right decision. I really believe that years from now kids and parents playing on these fields will still be thanking the folks who voted for this bond issue.

Y'all are the best.

No such thing as bad publicity

So I hope. Here is our coverage from last night. Check them out. Pass them along.

http://www.todaysthv.com/news/news.aspx?storyid=46988

http://www.fox16.com/mediacenter/local.aspx?videoid=47402@video.fox16.com

http://arkansasmatters.com/content/fulltext/?cid=56557

KATV 7 did a story as well. Still looking for a link. I think they were all great stories. Hopefully the attention will motivate our positive voters.

Guest Starring

Tab Townsell as...The Mayor. I'm going to allow a rare guest author post on the RunandPlay blog. Mayor Townsell has written a comprehensive summary of the parks election. I think it wraps things up well. JG

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2007 Parks Bond Issue June 12 Election Day - Early Voting at Courthouse NOW

PARKS BOND ISSUE: The Basic Facts

• No New Taxes. The two cent prepared food tax already exists. Tax rate will not go up!


• One cent of the prepared food tax will be extended to 20 years from a scheduled sunset in November 2008. The other cent was already permanent and will not change.


• The bond issue will be $13.5 million; ALL dedicated to parks.


• The one cent to be extended will be dedicated to paying the debt service on the bond issue.


• Three quarters of the “permanent” one cent will be available for other park projects not included in the bond issue. This will generate about $800,000 annually before inflation and growth. This extra money is NOT included in the bond issue but available OVER and ABOVE the proceeds of the bond issue.


• This money can only be used for parks! By State law it can NOT be used for anything else.

The Bond Issue Work Program:

• Girl’s Softball Complex: $3.5 Million The turn-key cost of a four field complex is estimated at $2.5 million dollars. The city wishes to build four if not five fields as a home for the girl’s softball. Currently, the girl’s program has no home but “borrows” the UCA softball complex. The girl’s complex will be located in a newly purchased park land at Siebenmorgen Road and Bob Courtway Drive. This park will also have playgrounds and walking trails among other amenities.


• Boy’s Baseball Complex: $7.5 Million Complete remodeling of the YBMA Park to build nine boy’s baseball fields replacing the ancient and embarrassing fields currently in use. Other amenities will include playgrounds, spray parks, and a small lake. (Not all other amenities may be included in the initial construction depending on budget)


• Relocation of County Fairgrounds $1 Million Acquisition of land and development of new fairgrounds; removing the fair and fair buildings from the YBMA Park allowing full redevelopment of that park. Relocation was a condition of the city’s deeply discounted purchase of the YBMA Fairgrounds for $75,000 when its actual worth was arguably between $2 and $4 million dollars.


• New Trails Construction $1.5 Million Construction of new trails which will more than double the current length of bike/walking trails in the city. #1 Trail Priority: The Stone Dam Creek trail in south Conway from UCA along the creek across South Donaghey towards South German Lane. #2 Trail Priority: Continued extension of the Tucker Creek Trail up Tucker Creek north and east across Salem Road, across College Avenue, across Prince Street, through the new Pompe Park at the corner of Prince Street and Morningside Drive to Gatlin Park on Tyler Street.

THE BOND ISSUE HELPS ALL PARK PROJECTS GET DONE FASTER. THE MAIN QUESTIONS: You are already paying the tax . . . How long until you see benefits? Will your children benefit? The City Council CAN NOT issue bonds (borrow money) without the public’s approval. You can help get all these Park Improvements and ONLY Park Improvements much quicker by voting for the bond issue. How long do you want to wait?

...for early voting. These are just some of our friends and neighbors who took the time to go vote. Let's keep it up.

David A. Clark-Brad Lacy-Tom Courtway-Laura Grimes-David Grimes-Jerry Glover-Robert Leffert-Melanie Lenser-Pete Tanguay-Lindsey Davenport-Amy Shiew-Margaret Grimes-C. Rebecca Harris-David St.John-TJ Johnston-Amy Reed-Kathy Wyrick-Mary Margaret Satterfield-Chris Campolo-Thomas Mickel-Glenn Hogue-Mark Ledbetter-Mitzi Reynolds-Jennifer Allison-Whitney Allison-Johnny Allison- Ray Kordsmeier-J. Mark Ferguson-Michelle Talley-Daniel Allen-Debbie Plopper-Blake Browning Jr.-Joseph S. Smith-Lisa Cooley-Drew Gainer-Clay Parker-Blayne Sharpe-Greg Sanson-Darrell Walsh-Holli Caughern-Travis Mulhearn-Michael O. Garrett-John D. Vondran-jay B. Castleberry-Richard Ryerson-Joel Hawkins-Laura Hill-Deanna Wimberly

I can't say how these folks may have voted, but at least they have voted. Have you? Early voting is open. It's slow and steady. Which doesn't necessarily win the race in an election. If you haven't already voted, please do. You can early vote at the courthouse from 8:00am-4:30pm until election day, June 12th. Let's win this thing!!!

Thanks for early voting.

What is one vote worth?

$9,000.

Give or take a view bucks. You weren't expecting such a firm answer were you? I'll explain. I really think that given the time of year, the projects included and the source of money, this election will not have a big turnout. I think that 1,500 votes FOR the Parks Bond Issue will be enough to pass it. The bond issue will raise $13.5 million for parks improvements. Divide that money by 1,500 votes and you get... $9,000 per vote.

People say that one vote doesn't make a difference. That may be true when you are talking about the lesser of two evils in a political race. But this election isn't about choosing sides in an political argument. It's about real money, real projects and making a positive lasting change for Conway NOW.

It's worth your time to vote. One household could justifiably take credit for $18,000 worth of parks construction. Every person you get to go vote for the bond issue... that's another $9,000 in shared credit and benefit. Make a difference. Go vote. Vote FOR the Parks Bond Issue. It's probably the last time you will be able to contribute $9,000 towards our city's future with so little effort.

Early voting starts today (Tuesday). Please take advantage. Just go to the courthouse and vote on the bottom floor. It will literally take seconds. Early voting will last until the election on June 12.

When you come to a fork in the road...take it.

The bond issue is solid. After a joint meeting between the Parks Advisory Board and the City Council last night, we have clear direction on trails. For those of you who have been following the process, the bond election will include a proposal for $1.5 million worth of trails. The Council and Advisory Board set two priorities for this money.

Priority "A" is to begin work on a new southern trail along Stone Dam Creek. We have a loose plan/route. Now we will start retaining easements along the creek. The trail will be built to the same standards as the Tucker Creek Trail. Over time the trail could run from the UCA campus south to South German Lane.

Priority "B" is completion of the Tucker Creek Trail. We already have 90% of the easements retained. We are also a little farther along regarding engineering. This will take the trail from the Dave Ward WalMart on the west all the way to Gatling Park. (the one across of Brierwood Pool)

We are going to work on both of these projects at the same time. I think that the Parks Advisory Board and the City Council are committed to seeing a true trails system in place for Conway. This is the start. We are spreading the love. Please help.