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MRSC Insight Blog


Posts for Parks, Recreation, and Culture

How Did Local Ballot Measures Fare in the November 2024 General Election?

December 9, 2024  by  Steve Hawley
Category:  Parks, Recreation, and Culture ,  Transportation ,  Emergency Medical Services ,  Fire Protection ,  Revenues ,  Minimum Wage ,  Law Enforcement ,  Ballot Measures ,  Special Districts

Tax-related initiatives struggled to gain voter approval in the 2024 November general election, and it was a mixed bag for other local ballot measures across the state. 

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Sunset with Port of Everett in background

Recapping the August 2024 Local Ballot Measure Results

September 4, 2024  by  Steve Hawley
Category:  Parks, Recreation, and Culture ,  Transportation ,  Port Districts ,  Emergency Medical Services ,  Fire Protection ,  Law Enforcement ,  Ballot Measures

Local governments placed 90 ballot measures in the August primary election, including many levy lid lift proposals, various public safety taxes, fire benefit charges, a citywide cannabis sales ban, and proposed service expansions.

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3 Ways to Make Your Public Plaza More Successful

October 29, 2018  by  Steve Butler
Category:  Parks, Recreation, and Culture

This blog post highlights three characteristics that will make your public gathering space more successful, including finding the right location, considering access to nearby buildings, and creating public programming to support plaza use.

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Using a Scavenger Hunt and Gamification to Unite a Growing City

October 12, 2018  by  Riley Sweeney
Category:  Guest Author ,  Parks, Recreation, and Culture ,  Public Participation

Guest author Riley Sweeney, Communications Officer/Recreation Coordinator for the City of Ferndale, writes about engaging city residents through game-playing via a scavenger hunt.

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9 Elements of Successful Small Parks and Plazas

October 5, 2016  by  Steve Butler
Category:  Parks, Recreation, and Culture

We're lucky to have so much access to spectacular open spaces and parks in Washington, but most of us can only get there during weekends or vacations. In the meantime, it's important to have access to small parks, plazas, and open spaces. So what are the secret ingredients to a successful small park or plaza?

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