Growing up on Lopez, my dream of becoming a professional athlete seemed embarrassingly out of reach. A community without facilities for tournaments, clubs or off-island events, and without access to guidance outside of school, offered little hope. Today, I play and coach soccer at the professional level across the United States and Europe, and I am incredibly grateful for the small community where I grew up. However, I also see it as a reason for my more unusual, delayed and challenging journey. My path could have been much different if a Parks and Recreation District had existed to support coaches in sharing their knowledge and expertise with someone like me.
Support and funding for school sports are essential. I also see more opportunities if Lopez had a Parks and Recreation District where community members could share their expertise with the next generation, regardless of vocation. Youthful dreams come in all shapes and sizes, but they all need guidance and support. There could be no better place than Lopez for youth to learn and master a craft or skill of their calling, nor a place more equipped with potential life-changing mentors for those seeking new knowledge. I will vote yes for “Lopez Rec,” and I encourage you to do the same.
Galen Westervelt
Lopez Island
I am the middle school soccer coach for Lopez this season. I have firsthand experience in how CRITICAL Parks and Recreation will be for our community. This school year the middle school sports budget was cut. There are no school funds to hire a coach or to go off island for games. But we have made it work! Barely. The Pack has covered ferry tickets, and gas for off island games. Families have sent money with their students for lunch and dinner off island. I have volunteered 10hrs a week while working two other jobs, and off island school to work around. THANKFULLY parents and school staff have graciously filled in the many gaps. As a middle school coach, myself and others are spending our own money for snacks and extra needed supplies. I volunteered to coach middle school soccer, with no soccer experience. But I can watch YouTube videos, and herd middle schoolers. The time and energy I am investing is 100% worth it to me. But it is by no means sustainable. School sports are not the only place where our community relies on the dedication of individual volunteers. Parks and Recreation would create the structure and resources that will allow activities and programs to continue. That is I believe our greatest duty as adults, to create systems that continue to provide for future generations. Join me and vote yes for “Lopez Rec.”
Coach Niko Broughe
Lopez Island
I have lived on Lopez Island for 13 years. I am a mother of two high school kids who attend Lopez Island School, a local business owner, and a homeowner. I would like to share my reasons for supporting a Parks & Recreation District on Lopez Island.
Our family is deeply invested in the Lopez Island school. I served the LIPTSA board for four years. We have known of the budget crisis for years now. One of my roles on the Parent Teacher Student Association was to raise funds for the school. With all our outstanding efforts and thousands of hours volunteering, fundraising, and asking the community for donations and help, we couldn’t come close to meeting the needs of the budget gap. Over those four years, I saw the same 10-20 people, including parents, kids, business owners, locals, and families, volunteer at every event. The same businesses consistently donate to every event, and the same community members generously donate their time and money. We also worked with the PACK on many of these fundraisers. But at the end of the day, we realized this is not sustainable.
There is significant volunteer burnout, and although it’s fantastic to receive support from our local businesses and community, we can’t keep relying on the same approach year after year, hoping for a different result. We need a solution; we need something sustainable and more effective to support the sports that serve a large population of our children, as well as after-school programs, summer camps, and more. All these programs help our community thrive! I believe this is a small ask for a BIG solution, for the future of our community. I will vote yes for “Lopez Rec,” and I hope you do, too.
Keri Sausman
Lopez Island
