Prop 490 is about conservation of Scottsdale’s amenities.

When Prop 400 was approved in 1995, my grandfather, Barry Goldwater, fully supported saving the open space we now know as the McDowell Sonoran preserve. From his early days on the Phoenix City Council and the US Senate, he worked to curtail development on the mountains around the city.

The Preserve was purchased with the revenue generated by the .2% sales tax increase. Prop 490 proposes a .15% increase that takes effect when the .2% expires. The goal today is to support the health of all 44 parks in Scottsdale from the effects of warmer summers, increasing fire danger and wear and tear. It also provides ongoing care for our Preserve.

The new revenue will enhance police and fire protection, repair and replace parking lots, trails, trees, sports fields, lighting, playgrounds, dog parks and increase wildlife protection in the Preserve. Our home is a five-minute walk to the magnificent Indian Bend Wash Greenbelt. The City of Scottsdale has worked to change it from a dry arroyo to a ribbon of green that cools the surrounding area and has every activity imaginable. Recent improvements to the park include a complete redo of the tennis courts, lining the lakes to conserve water, and a new underpass at Chapparal road for bikes and pedestrians. Other parks in the system continue to receive upgrades that enhance user experience.

With the additional revenue from Prop 490 there will be money available for the parks, so property tax increasing bonds won’t be necessary.

As my grandfather was quoted in the Arizona republic, “Conservatism, at its core, is about preserving traditions, institutions and values. Natural resources are a part of our heritage and protecting them ensures our wellbeing and that of future generations.”

Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at AzOpinions@iniusa.org.