SAVE OUR PARKS! INDEPENDENCE STAND UP!

172

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The Issue

SAVE OUR PARKS!

The city of independence announced today the closure of 5 parks including Riverview park downtown and my personal favorite the inspiration garden that has been supported by volunteers. We are a community and deserve to have the spaces to be one and continue to enjoy them! IT IS NOT TOO LATE! We must act now and save them before November elections. PLEASE SIGN AND SPREAD THE WORD. WE ARE ENTITLED TO THIRD SPACES. TO NATURE. TO COMMUNITY AND GATHERING. WE DESERVE THEM BECAUSE WE ARE PEOPLE!

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Tera LopezPetition Starter
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The Decision Makers

Kate Schwarzler
Kate Schwarzler
Independence City Mayor
Responded
“I appreciate the concern behind this petition and share the community’s desire to see our parks reopened and sustainably maintained. It is important, however, that residents understand the current situation and the path available to restore funding. The City Council adopted the Community Services and Parks Fee to provide dedicated, ongoing funding for our parks, Library and Heritage Museum. The fee is currently suspended because it was referred to voters for the November election. A YES vote in November means the Community Services and Parks Fee is put in place, restoring the dedicated revenue budgeted for these services. The Parks portion of the fee is $8.15 per month. Combined with the Library and Museum portion—and the simultaneous $7 reduction in the Public Safety Fee—the net change is $12.65 per month. A petition expressing support for our parks demonstrates how much these public spaces matter, but it does not provide the ongoing funding needed to operate and maintain them. That requires a sustainable source of revenue. I encourage everyone to review the City’s factual information about the closures, the fee, the cuts already made and what will happen following the November vote: Community Services and Parks Closure FAQ: https://www.ci.independence.or.us/closure-faq/ Community Services and Parks Fee Information: https://www.ci.independence.or.us/community-services-parks-fee/ I welcome continued community involvement and viable ideas. I also want residents to understand clearly that the question of whether this fee takes effect—and whether its dedicated funding becomes available for our parks, Library and Museum—is now in the hands of Independence voters. Thank you, Mayor Kate [Note: The Change.org Civic Engagement Team reaches out to decision makers to let them know about petitions in their community and to help facilitate engagement with supporters. The above was an email response we received regarding this petition.]”
Independence City Council
Independence City Council

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Petition created on August 24, 2026