At first blush, it might seem counterintuitive that Morgan Hill
officials are planning to spend $4 million on park land in this
dire economy.
At first blush, it might seem counterintuitive that Morgan Hill officials are planning to spend $4 million on park land in this dire economy.
After all, with layoffs and service cuts looming, why would they spend money on something as seemingly superfluous as parks?
There are two good answers to that question that illustrate why now is the right time to be shopping for park land.
Funds dedicated to this purpose
First, the money can’t be spent on anything else. The funds for park land purchases come from impact fees that were collected with the promise that they would be spent on providing new parks to keep up with the needs of the city’s growing population.
The city’s general plan says this community needs five acres of park land for every 1,000 people. Morgan Hill currently is 16 percent short of that goal. That translates to 35 to 40 acres, Recreation Manager Julie Spier said.
This particular pot of money can’t be spent on restoring jobs or services. It can only be spent on buying park land.
Buyer’s market
Second, we’re experiencing a buyer’s market for the first time in years. Now that California’s overinflated real estate bubble has burst, the city will be able to get more bang for its buck on land purchases.
As officials look for parcels that meet the city’s priorities, we of course expect that they’ll drive a hard bargain on behalf of beleaguered taxpayers.
Their most important tool in this regard is a willingness to walk away from landowners who have unrealistic price expectations.
Meanwhile, residents need to understand that these lands likely won’t be turned into parks anytime soon, given the current economy.
But the city made a commitment to new and existing residents to purchase park land with park impact fees, and that commitment must be honored. Now is an excellent time to do that.
