Placing third on Mayor Greg Nickels' priority of levies that should be passed this year is Proposition 2, a citizen effort to prolong the current Pro Parks levy, favored by many neighborhoods that benefited from money to create more parks and green spaces.

Nickels has endorsed and committed to the $73 million property tax levy to upgrade the seismic and core infrastructure of Pike Place Market and Proposition 1, the Sound Transit proposed expansion of light rail to South Snohomish County and the Eastside.

"Due to difficult economic times, the mayor didn't support putting Proposition 2 on the ballot because he felt the city needed to demonstrate that they can prioritize the demands on property owners," said Karin Zaugg Black, a spokesperson for the mayor. "The mayor supports parks and wants to consider looking at a potential parks ballot levy in 2010."

Formed by a 28-member Parks and Green Spaces Levy citizens' advisory committee, Proposition 2 would be a $145 million measure to take place of the $200 million Pro Parks Levy passed in 2000 and will expire at the end of this year.

The levy money is budgeted over a span of six years to help invest in parks and green spaces that the committee finds to project the quality of life and active and healthy lifestyles in Seattle.

"There are a number of projects within this levy that is sorely needed in our communities," said Pete Spalding, West Seattle representative of the Parks and Green Spaces Levy citizens' advisory committee. "Folks need an outlet to take their families to. They need someplace to take their kids to recreate and having the ability to do that close to home is great."

Citizens may be worried for the increase in paying another tax, however the parks levy averages a cost of $81 a year for the typical homeowner which is about a $30 decrease from the current and expiring Pro Parks levy.

"When you look at the projects that are in this levy, we spent many long nights pouring over a list of projects to do," said Spalding. "One of the things people kept pounding was that projects needed to be equitable across the city. "There were some very good projects that were left off the levy because we felt there was another project in that part of town that was more important."

Some projects in West Seattle consist of greenbelt acquisition that would increase Seattle's green legacy and contribute $6 million to natural areas. Along with this acquisition the forest and streamside restoration would also provide opportunities to re-establish and maintain 130 acres of healthy urban forests including the East and West Duwamish and Duwamish Head.

Roxhill Park would be brought up to federal safety standards with neighborhood playground and skatepark improvements. Delridge Playfields would also encounter improvements to increase player safety and improve playability by converting the lit sand sports fields to synthetic surfacing.

New major neighborhood parks would be created on lids mandated for city reservoirs and would provide new green space and community garden developments creating a greater connection to food and more space to support the growing demand of P-Patches in West Seattle.

"I think this country has a long tradition in investing in public works and investments," said Dave Boyd, Ballard representative of the levy committee. "This levy has $145 million in acquisitions and as Seattle grows the most important thing is to acquire the park land to serve the growing population. It's tough to take advantage of those opportunities when you have a hot real estate market and builders are bidding for every scrap of land out there."

A successful element of the Pro Parks Levy was the Opportunity Fund that allowed neighborhoods to access funds for additional projects over the course of the levy.

"Projects included were the purchase of open space, the development of parks and playgrounds as well as building trails and community gardens throughout Seattle," said the Seattle Parks and Green Spaces Levy community on SeattleParksForAll.org Web site.

The Opportunity Fund was expanded in the Parks and Green Spaces Levy to $15 million.

Not renewing the levy Seattle will mean a loss of a significant source of funding for the places that have been transformed into green and open spaces around Seattle said the levy committee members.

"We can create great places in the city, particularly in neighborhoods like Ballard and West Seattle that are growing so fast," Boyd said. "That is where the acquisition dollars are targeted to, all of the fastest growing neighborhoods in the city. That is very critical."

Seattle's general election will take place, Tuesday, Nov. 4. For more information on Proposition 2-Parks and Green Spaces Levy visit http://keep.seattleparksforall.org/.

Allison Espiritu may be reached at 783-1244 or allisone@robinsonnews.com.