Big municipal park in Salem would be boon for families

For an Oregon family of four to spend just one glorious day at Disneyland, they need to plan on spending nearly $2,000. Just one day!

Kids' tickets are $81, and adults pay $91. The cheapest Southwest flights to one of the nearby airports are $119. A halfway decent hotel room for the four to cram together would be at least $150, and then there are food, souvenirs and ground transportation. Two thousand dollars, easily.

Anaheim, Calif., and Disneyland are 944 miles from Salem. At $4 per gallon and a car that achieves 20 miles per gallon, the family of four could drive there for just $377.60 in gas, plus meals and maybe a night in a hotel driving down on the 16-hour trip.

Spending time as a family is one of the most important elements in raising kids today. No matter if it is typical nuclear family, a single-parent family, a blended family, an inter-generational family, a foster family or an adoptive family — it is important for kids to identify with a family.

Family means trust. Family means security. Family means connection. With trust, security and connection, the early-childhood experts will verify that kids do better in school and socially.

But not all families can afford to fly to California and Disneyland. I use this space to encourage all Salem-area families to get on board and support the efforts to create one of the largest municipal parks in North America right here on the Willamette River.

Much of the work is already done. Much of the money needed to create this recreation wonderland has been secured. It can soon be ours — a place that families can enjoy, year-round, doing the things that build upon that trust, security and connection.

Friends of Two Bridges is a group of dedicated people who are in the process of helping the city of Salem finalize the master plan for connecting Salem's Riverfront Park with Wallace Marine Park via the old railroad bridge and Minto-Brown Island by way of a proposed new bridge. The three parks together total a land mass of 1,047 acres, greater than Stanley Park (1,000 acres) in Vancouver, B.C., or Central Park (843 acres) in New York City, making our connected spaces one of the larger municipal park systems in North America.

The old Union Street railroad bridge is under renovation, removing the tracks and laying a bridge deck that will carry walkers, runners and bikers. No cars, no pollution. What great family fun!

Free access to three distinct parks with so many amenities. Healthy activities that families can enjoy year-round.

This great park system will be the jewel in the crown of downtown and Salem redevelopment. There are so many things going on in Salem, but none that speak to "community" as strongly as this project. It is close to reality and just needs a little push from citizens.

I urge every family to write a letter of support to Salem Urban Development Department, 350 Commercial St. NE, Salem, OR 97301. Letters of support will help in gaining state grants and make this great park system a reality.

Caren Ann Jackson of Salem is a professional photographer and former director of Salem's Riverfront Carousel. She can be reached at cjackson@swcp.com.