A sure way to turn out the vote in Eagle, Colorado: hold an election asking for a new sales tax to fund a whitewater play park on the local river. Voters overwhelmingly supported the project.
"Eagle residents overwhelmingly approved a sales tax increase to fund a river park project in a record-turnout election for the town," according to an article by Jason Blevins.
"The 20-year, half-percent sales tax increase to 4.5 percent will spark development of a $12 million riverpark project designed to transform a dirt parking lot used by truckers into a gateway for the growing town," reports Blevins.
The park will include a "whitewater park for kayakers and stand-up paddlers and terraced fields designed to lure passersby off Interstate 70 and into town." Local officials are also hoping the new park "spurs mixed-use development on private land between the park and Eagle's historic downtown."
Additional local coverage of the vote by John Laconte notes the 2-1 ratio of approval for the park and includes some renderings of the expected layout of the Eagle River Park.
FULL STORY: Eagle approves sales tax for river park project
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Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
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