Parks, stormwater initiative important to community

The citizens of Cape Girardeau will go to the polls on April 3 to consider the renewal of our Parks, Recreation and Storm Water Initiative.

This is a renewal, not a new tax. It is the renewal of the very successful PRS1 that was enthusiastically approved by our citizens in 2008 which significantly improved our quality of life with the addition of Cape Splash, Shawnee Community Center, improvements to Osage, the golf course, other park and trail additions, and several storm water projects that improved pre-existing flooding issues.

I am asking for your YES vote next Tuesday, April 3 to approve the renewal of this very important initiative.

The projects included in this initiative were developed by staff, council and our citizen advisory committee along with major input from you, our citizens, at multiple public comment sessions.

Proposed parks capital improvement projects: New aquatic complex (partnership opportunity); new youth ballfield complex; Cape Splash Phase 3; equipment/fleet replacement; Capaha Park Master Plan; Arena Park infrastructure improvements; Shawnee Park Sports Complex Renovation; trails; parking overlays; Osage Center enhancements; two new neighborhood parks (south side); Shawnee Park Center addition; Red Star Neighborhood Park; Cape Rock Park improvements; golf course enhancements; five new park restrooms; city cemeteries improvements; River Heritage Museum renovation; Fort D Park improvements.

These projects total over $27 million, represent new and improved facilities throughout all areas of the city, and will be accomplished over the next 15 years.

Proposed stormwater capital improvement projects: Arena Creek watershed; Arena Park box culverts; Hopper at Kingshighway box culvert; Lisa Branch watershed; Culvert upgrades on Brookwood, Sherwood, Westwood, Glenridge, Melrose and Lisa; Camellia area watershed; Camellia culvert upgrade, bypass and diversion pipe; Scivally branch watershed; Lexington and Perryville Road culvert upgrades; Good Hope watershed; Good Hope St. drainage project; Capaha watershed; Capaha Park lagoon dredging; Penny at Sunset culvert upgrades; Airport, south airport drainage; Trail Creek bank projects: Lexington Crossing Creek, Walden Park Trail, Lynwood Hills bridge.

Most of these projects are being undertaken by watershed which will give the city the most improvements in street and yard flooding during major rain events. Previous stormwater projects have eliminated nearly all of previous commercial and home flooding in our city.

The above parks and stormwater projects have been planned and vetted by both staff and many community members and are being presented to you, our proud citizens, as a balance of improving what we have through renovation, repairs and replacement of critical equipment and facilities along with new facilities that include neighborhood parks and trails, a new youth ballfield complex and a new indoor aquatic center to replace the aging Cape Municipal Pool.

I would also like to highlight the fact that approximately 60 percent of the funding of this renewal will be derived from people who do not live within our city limits but are able to enjoy all of our many amenities that are provided by you, our citizens.

I would refer you to the following websites for more detailed information on all of the projects: yesapril3rd.com and facebook.com/yesapril3rd.

I will close with a thank you to all our citizens who have given me the privilege and honor to represent you these past eight years as your mayor. It has been a journey that I have thoroughly enjoyed, and I am very proud of the progress that we have made in growing Cape Girardeau, with everyone's assistance, over the past eight years.

I personally ask you to support our great city by voting YES on April 3.

Harry Rediger is the mayor of Cape Girardeau.