Rally for the Rec is a Lopez Island campaign supported by a group of diverse, committed, community-minded Lopezians who formed as a committee in the beginning of 2024 to establish a Parks and Recreation District on Lopez Island. The formal name of the committee is the Lopez Island Parks and Recreation District Formation Committee.

A Parks and Recreation District (also more informally called a ‘Parks and Rec District’) provides resources and services for the purposes of leisure, entertainment and recreational pursuits within a specific jurisdiction. In doing so, it collaborates with local organizations, schools, and businesses. It is also a junior taxing district, with the majority of its funding coming from a voter-supported property tax levy. Participant fees for recreation programs as well as donations and grants can cover any remaining costs. A Parks and Recreation District is governed by a board of five publicly elected commissioners.

No, the Lopez Island Parks and Recreation District initiative is not associated with the Lopez Swim Center currently under construction. The Lopez Swim Center is privately funded and none of the revenues from the Parks and Recreation District are intended for the building, or future maintenance and operations of the Lopez Swim Center. The Friends of Lopez Island Pool (FLIP), a local not-for-profit 501(3)(c) organization will be issuing its own formal statement explaining the distinction.

The Lopez Island School District currently funds school sports out of the school operating budget, but Washington State school district funding formulas, the State legislated School District levy lid, and student enrollment challenges have made it difficult to maintain funding for current Varsity and Junior Varsity sports teams. Receiving Parks and Recreation District funding would allow current sports teams to thrive and additional teams like Wrestling and Softball to be added. Lopez Island Parks and Recreation District funding will also ensure support for sports programs in middle and elementary schools that provide opportunities for younger athletes, develop skills early and serve as a pipeline to varsity athletics. The San Juan Island Parks and Recreation District follows this model and has dynamic K-12 sports opportunities.

For many years we have been relying on volunteers and nonprofits for resources and services that both San Juan and Orcas Islands have provided through their Parks and Recreation Districts. The San Juan Island Parks and Recreation District was established in 1984, and the Orcas Island Parks and Recreation District was formed in 2009. Both these Parks and Recreation Districts fund sports programs alongside many other leisure and recreational activities to support all ages, interests and needs. While the size and scope may vary, the vast majority of communities across the country have some form of Parks and Recreation District. Not only can a Parks and Recreation District support the programming of existing organizations, but it can provide many new opportunities for recreation, leisure, entertainment and community building.

Prior to 2002, cities in Washington State under 5000 residents could not create an MPD, now all cities can, regardless of size. Since the law changed in 2002, it has become the preferred model in forming a Parks and Recreation District, even in small communities. Numerous existing Parks and Recreation Districts across the State have also voted to move to the MPD structure due to the benefits it can provide. The primary benefit is greater stability in funding. Furthermore, MPDs often have access to funding mechanisms, like bond issues, that may not be available to regular Parks and Recreation Districts. With greater resources, an MPD can often offer a wider variety of programs to meet community needs. A metropolitan district can also have a stronger voice in regional planning and policy-making, advocating for the needs of its communities more effectively.

The borders of a Lopez Parks and Recreation District would be the geographical area of Lopez Island.

Yes! Community input in the planning process and once a Parks and Rec is established is vital. There will be opportunities for residents to provide feedback through public meetings and surveys. We are already planning a meeting with existing organizations on Lopez that provide programming to see how a Lopez Island Parks and Recreation District can support them, and we also have plans for several town hall meetings. You can also expect to see information booths at upcoming community events and locations. Check in with our website for upcoming dates and news. We want our Parks and Recreation District to be responsive to the community’s needs. If you want additional input or to provide feedback, please feel free to reach out directly to the Rally for the Rec group via email: info@rallyfortherec.org.

The Lopez Parks and Recreation District hopes to involve and support every island resident!

The opportunity to engage in recreation programming benefits all community members. Regardless of individual participation, there are many trickle-down advantages that come with sustainable programming. The Lopez Island Parks and Recreation District will offer our youth opportunities to engage in healthy, connected activities that will benefit their physical and emotional health and will ensure that the Lopez Island School District is able to continue providing a robust sports program.

Affordable, safe and enriching after-school and summer programs for children and youth are essential for working parents, allowing families to thrive on Lopez.

Seniors will benefit from centralized access to expanded social activities. The Lopez Island Parks and Recreation will provide opportunities for our retired residents to connect and engage with their community.

The Lopez Island Parks and Recreation District will be a hub for participation and connection for all community members, provide local businesses with administrative and insurance assistance, support our local workforce, offer employment opportunities, bring sustainability to existing cherished programming, and directly aims to enrich the quality of life of ALL Lopez residents.

Funding may come from various sources, including property taxes, grants, user fees, and partnerships. However, the primary financial support comes from property taxes.

The levy amount for the Parks and Rec has not yet been finalized because the ‘Rally for The Rec’ group is in a process of engagement with existing Lopez organizations and residents on how a Lopez Parks and Recreation District can best support community needs. This feedback, alongside other budgeting considerations, will affect the levy amount to be voted on. For reference, San Juan Island Parks and Recreation District currently has a levy of 38.5 cents per $1000 of property assessment value. The Lopez Island Parks and Recreation District levy will not exceed this rate. As soon as the levy amount has been set, the committee will make public the budget and levy.

Since Lopez Island has no city parks, none of the revenue will go to park maintenance. Instead, the revenue will go to creating diverse and dynamic community-driven programming for all, ensuring highly-qualified long-term staffing, partnering with local non-profits and organizations and employing community members and contracting with local vendors to provide recreational opportunities and events. An annual budget will be approved by the elected Parks and Recreation District Board of Commissioners and available to the public.

There are numerous non-profits working hard to provide for the needs of our community. For example, the Lopez Lobos PACK has been essential to supporting school sports, the Lopez Island Family Resource Center (LIFRC) has been providing among other things, summer workshops and after school and summer programming for the community. There are many non-profit organizations that currently work to support our community. However, many of these organizations rely on funding that lacks long-term security or sustainability. Of note, the five year LIFRC grant that currently funds the after school and summer programs is a grant that expires in two years with no clear path to future funding.

It will be a levy collected with your property taxes.

After voter approval, the levy would be collected as part of your ongoing property taxes.

The levy can only be changed by ballot measure and according to the will of the voters.

The Lopez Island Parks and Recreation District would be governed by a board of five publicly elected commissioners. When voting to pass the measure on the ballot, you will also be voting for the five commissioners. These positions are held for alternating five year terms.

Oversight on how a Parks and Recreation District’s revenue is spent typically involves several key entities. Firstly the board, which is made up of five publicly elected officials responsible for approving budgets and expenditures. They ensure that funds are allocated according to the goals and guidelines set out in the district’s formation documents. Secondly, regular audits conducted by independent auditors provide an objective review of how funds are spent, ensuring compliance with laws and regulations. Thirdly, public meetings or forums allow community members to voice concerns or suggestions regarding spending priorities, promoting transparency and accountability. These layers of oversight help ensure that funds are used effectively and transparently to serve the community.

The governing board is elected by the will of the voters, and any Lopez residents who are registered to vote can run for the board. Secondly, indicators such as community interest and program feedback will influence the programming and offerings moving forward. Also, there will never be levy raises without voter approval.

The committee managing the ‘Rally for Rec’ campaign continues to actively research and assess the viability of and support for a Parks and Recreation District for Lopez Island. The committee is already actively seeking community input and connecting with local businesses and organizations to find out how a Parks and Recreation District could help them and our community as a whole. As part of this process, information exchange and gathering meetings will be held with local community organizations and businesses, and a minimum of two Town Hall community conversations will be organized to obtain community feedback. Following a period of information gathering, public communication and engagement, a signature petition would be initiated. Once the required number of signatures have been collected, they would be presented to the San Juan County Council for approval. A successful petition would allow a levy measure to be added to a forthcoming election ballot that would be voted on to establish a Lopez Island Parks and Recreation District. On the election ballot, voters will vote on three things: 1): to form a Parks and Recreation District on Lopez Island; 2) to elect 5 district board members, and 3) to approve a proposed levy amount. With the successful passage of ALL THREE of these ballot measures, a Lopez Island Parks and Recreation District can be formed.

The intent of the committee is to have it on an election ballot in the first half of 2025 but it is too early to know at this time.

Placing an initiative, such as the proposal to create a Parks and Recreation District, on an election ballot can be quite expensive. For instance, if there’s only one measure on the ballot, the administrative cost to the County government could reach up to $50,000. This cost must be covered by Rally for the Rec.

Donations are also essential for producing educational materials, such as brochures, flyers, a website, social media campaigns, printing of petition forms etc. By soliciting donations, the “Rally for the Rec” campaign committee aims to ensure they have the necessary resources to effectively promote the initiative and engage the community in the process.
It’s important to note that all committee members are volunteers and are not being paid for their time or efforts. Their commitment to this initiative is driven by a shared passion for enhancing recreational opportunities in our community, but the financial support from donations is crucial to cover the necessary expenses for promoting the initiative and ensuring it reaches the ballot.

Any and all support is needed and so very welcome! Please refer to the website www.rallyfortherec.org for details on how to donate.

A failed measure would have significant implications for our community. We can expect to see many beloved programs and events either being scaled back or eliminated as they become increasingly unsustainable. These particularly include school sports, summer workshops, after-school and summer programming. As the K-12 Lopez public school is an essential part of our community, without adequate funds to finance school sports it is expected that enrollment would drop further, putting even more pressure on our school’s stretched finances. As a community we would also be deprived of many new opportunities for vibrant community engagement, recreation, and wellness programs. Community members and advocates would need to continually rally for future funding initiatives, or find volunteers to ensure the continuation of services, none of which is sustainable in the long term.

Donations are also essential for producing educational materials, such as brochures, flyers, a website, social media campaigns, printing of petition forms etc. By soliciting donations, the “Rally for the Rec” campaign committee aims to ensure they have the necessary resources to effectively promote the initiative and engage the community in the process.
It’s important to note that all committee members are volunteers and are not being paid for their time or efforts. Their commitment to this initiative is driven by a shared passion for enhancing recreational opportunities in our community, but the financial support from donations is crucial to cover the necessary expenses for promoting the initiative and ensuring it reaches the ballot.

Any and all support is needed and so very welcome! Please refer to the website www.rallyfortherec.org for details on how to donate.

If the measure passes, then the newly elected board will have the green light to begin the process of hiring staff, approving a budget and bringing the community vision to life.

Please reach out to the ‘Rally for the Rec’ formation committee via email: info@rallyfortherec.org. We will be happy to answer any questions, have a phone call or meet in person.