I wanted to reiterate that this property was purchased in 2000 by the City of Wheat Ridge with Jefferson County open space funds. I supported the purchase in 2000 as a member of council and will continue to support this project moving forward. It's the right project at the right time for the community as we move forward to revitalize our city. It will support economic redevelopment along the Kipling corridor and will be a destination location within our city. I am also very supportive of possibly "land banking" the property across the street from the park to the west and encouraging commercial redevelopment of that site. The WRURA has already begun this process and will be working with property owners much like they did on 44th and Wadsworth Blvd.

On a similar note, the costs to build this park will be also be paid for with Jefferson County Open Space Funds and other types of outdoor grants. A minimal amount of dollars will come out of the city's general fund. I have full faith that our parks department director, Joyce Manwaring, will find the dollars to build this community park from a myriad of outdoor grant sources. Future maintenance expenses are also paid for by utilizing Jefferson County open space funds.

The concerns raised in the article about future maintenance costs draining the city's budget are a red herring. If that is ever the case, we will have much larger budget problems to worry about than park maintenance.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions at 303-235-2800 or jerryditullio@comcast.net. Thanks.

Please see the following link for the Wheat Ridge Transcript:

http://www.jeffconews.com/Articles-i-2008-08-28-207762.114125_Council_back_and_forth_on_park.html