Thankfully, park money accepted

So, Rio Rancho received $1.2 million for its park for people with disabilities after all.

We wonder if the families and children who will enjoy this park will care if the money came from the state’s 2012 budget rather than the 2013 budget. We wonder if the fact that Mayor Tom Swisstack was censured by our City Council because he spoke to the state Legislature about funding the park – from 2013 monies, not 2012 – or if anyone will remember all the controversy that surrounded this park after it is built.

We hope not. We hope it is enjoyed and is well used. We would like to believe it will help set a new standard for parks that serve all the people and honors their differences.

In the meantime, while we are waiting for the park to be built, the people of Rio Rancho are watching political theater that is never going to be ready for a run on Broadway.

We understand that 2013 priorities set by our City Council this year did not include A Park Above. We can respect the council’s desire for funds for current infrastructure rather than a new park. Respecting their decision for the city’s “wish list” does not mean we agreed with their decision to censure the mayor for speaking out in favor of the park while not speaking against the council’s requests. That seemed unnecessary as well as over the top.

We also do not understand city councilors Chuck Wilkins’ and Mark Scott’s unwillingness to even support accepting the $1.2 million from the state’s 2012 budget. This had nothing to do with this year’s request, nor did it have anything to do with the mayor’s talk to the Legislature.

According to what was said during the council meeting, the councilors opposed to accepting the money wanted to spend the money on other things and thought the parks department’s assessment of what it would cost to maintain the park was too low. We don’t know if those are legitimate concerns or not, but they don’t seem worth rejecting the money.

Estimates are the park will cost $2.5 million to build, and a $1.2 million contribution provides a major part of the funding. We don’t see the arguments as strong enough to reject the money. We see the state contribution as a great opportunity to see a dream become a reality. We thank the state, Gov. Susana Martinez, Mayor Tom Swisstack, and city councilors Patty Thomas, Tamara Gutierrez, Tim Crum and Lonnie Clayton for supporting Rio Rancho’s plan for A Park Above.

We would hope that the City Council can look at the big picture without getting hung up on minutiae. Doing the best for the city and all of its residents without any games or power plays is in the best interest of Rio Rancho.

We encourage everyone to get behind A Park Above and contribute money to the project if you can. There is still more money to be raised and, if the state money is not spent by June 30, 2014, it goes back to the state. We believe the people of Rio Rancho want this park; let’s make it happen.

And, on another note:

Rio Rancho’s own leprechauns, painters of the shamrock at Southern Boulevard and Country Club Drive, deserve a lot of praise. For more than a decade, the leprechauns have honored St. Patrick’s Day by painting the shamrock and have created a tradition that the people of Rio Rancho look forward to, but this year they outdid themselves. It is a great shamrock, and the color really shows off the Irish spirit.

We commend our very special leprechauns and look forward to the tradition continuing throughout the years. Thank you.

Common Sense appears on Saturdays. Contact the Ryans at ryan@abqjournal.com.
— This article appeared on page 23 of the Albuquerque Journal