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Park and Recreation District Proposes Name Change
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 7, 2018
St. Helens, Ore. – The Greater Saint Helens Park and Recreation District will hold a public hearing on Monday, August 20 at 5 p.m. at Eisenschmidt Pool to receive public comment on a proposed name change to the District. The District, which operates Eisenschmidt Pool, passed a motion on April 16 to change its name from the Greater Saint Helens Park and Recreation District to the Greater Saint Helens Aquatic District.
The District will remain a park and recreation district and continue to operate the pool after the name change. Eisenschmidt Pool’s name will remain unchanged.
The name change comes after the City of St. Helens began talks with the Greater Saint Helens Park and Recreation District in January 2018 about a potential name change to the District. The City launched a recreation program this summer in partnership with the St. Helens School District, and funding for the City’s parks has been a regular topic of discussion for the St. Helens City Council and city management.
When funding for the recreation program and local parks comes up, City officials regularly receive questions from citizens who are confused about where their tax dollars are going. St. Helens property owners see a line item on their yearly property tax statement that shows money that is being collected for the Greater Saint Helens Park and Recreation District. Property owners often assume that this money is going to the City of St. Helens to pay for the cost of maintaining local parks and providing recreational opportunities for the community. However, this is not the case. The money goes directly to the Greater Saint Helens Park and Recreation District, a special district that is a separate organization from the City of St. Helens, and the tax money is used exclusively for the operation and maintenance of Eisenschmidt Pool.
The proposed name change is intended to clarify the confusion.
“We appreciate the pool working with the City and look forward to partnering with them more in the future,” said City Finance Director Matt Brown. “We hope this change will clear up misconceptions in the community about where their tax dollars are going and what they are being used for.”
The Greater Saint Helens Park and Recreation District is a special district that is independent from any other government agency in Columbia County. The District was formed in 1993 to continue operation of Eisenschmidt Pool and provide pool-centered activities focused on swimming lessons, water safety, fitness, and family fun. The District promotes safe, convenient, affordable, and diverse facilities with programs for people of all ages.
“We are very open to working with the City of St. Helens and St. Helens School District to promote their Recreation Program,” said Eisenschmidt Pool Manager Anne Scholz. “The program provides kids a larger opportunity to excel in extracurricular activities throughout the year.”
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For further information regarding the Greater Saint Helens Park and Recreation District name change, please contact City of St. Helens Finance Director Matt Brown at mattb@ci.st-helens.or.us or 503-366-8227.
