Vote no on Batavia rec. center issue

The supporters of the Batavia Park District $20 million recreation referendum have started to mail and post positive recommendations throughout the district. Some of the information that is being posted is inaccurate and it appears the park district website is the start of the misinformation.

On the “Funding Page,” the park district claims that 50 percent of the funding for the 200-plus space parking garage will come from the referendum. This is not correct because the parking garage, with limited retail space, is being built by the developer with $6 million of TIF funds from the city of Batavia. TIF funds are better used for the entire downtown, rather than one location.

The lap pool now has become a competitive pool. The International Swimming Federation defines a competitive swimming pool as being at least 25 meters (82 feet) in length and 1.35 meters (4.4 feet), in depth. The park district's information lists the dimensions of the lap pool as three to four feet in depth at the ends and six feet in the middle.

On the “Get the Facts Page,” the park district clearly states that this recreation center and redevelopment of downtown will generate an additional 1,000 people per day visiting downtown Batavia. This increase in traffic, whether people or automobiles, will completely gridlock the downtown.

On the “Funding Page,” the Batavia Park District claims no new taxes “as proposed.” That allows the park district to increase taxes if income does not meet expenses.

This must be defeated because the park district and its supporters cannot be trusted with $20 million.

Jack McCabe

Batavia