While the Joplin City Council has effectively scrapped plans to build a walking trail at Schifferdecker Park, in our view, city leaders should reconsider their decision.
That trail was part of an original tax pledge made to voters in 2002 when they passed a quarter-cent sales tax for parks and stormwater projects.
Councilman Bill Scearce lobbied to build four softball fields rather than two by using money earmarked for trails. The tax pledge for the athletic complex called for “soccer fields, ballfields, tennis courts, press box, concessions, parking and utilities for future restrooms and lighting. Scearce was responding to softball players who submitted a petition two years ago saying they were disappointed when the city built the $1 million baseball field at the sports complex rather than softball fields.
In our view, the promise for the Schifferdecker trail was very specific in 2002.
Now, the city is talking to the public in an effort to lay the groundwork to decide whether to ask voters to renew the quarter-cent sales tax for parks and stormwater projects in 2012.
We’d like them to complete the original plan before eyeing the tax renewal.
We’ve heard from a number of our readers who live in the Schifferdecker Park area. They still remember the council’s promise.
And we’re sure they’ll remember a broken promise when it comes time to vote.
We’d encourage the council to put the issue back on the table.
