Park costs on right path

To the editor:
When I returned home last week, I was surprised to find Mr. Satterfield’s letter concerning the town’s park and the old hack about its early estimated cost (a ballpark number for planning purposes only based on a concept plan) of $1.2 million.
Mr. Satterfield, had you ever been involved in long-range project planning, you would know that estimates of project costs are just that, estimates and not hard numbers for the project’s final development. Perhaps you have been involved in project development, but you don’t show it with your comments.
Only in the long-range CIP plan was the $1.2 million number ever mentioned; not in the town’s annual budget nor in any specifically named (earmarked) funds like street paving or bike paths.
Now that the park’s development plan is in its final stage, the hard numbers for it will be about half of the preliminary estimate. The likelihood of a grant will further reduce the use of the town’s reserve funds to about one-fourth of the original $1.2 million estimate.
You were right when you wrote, “None are so blind as those who will not see.” So please open your eyes and your mind so you don’t distort the facts for your own political agenda in the future.
The council and [town administrator Gary] Parker have done an open and professional job along with public participation in the planning process for the park and in controlling the final cost in the best interests of all Sunset Beach residents.
Len Steiner
Sunset Beach