Growing up on Lopez, my dream of becoming a professional athlete seemed embarrassingly out of reach. A community without facilities for tournaments, clubs or off-island events, and without access to guidance outside of school, offered little hope. Today, I play and coach soccer at the professional level across the United States and Europe, and I am incredibly grateful for the small community where I grew up. However, I also see it as a reason for my more unusual, delayed and challenging journey. My path could have been much different if a Parks and Recreation District had existed to support coaches in sharing their knowledge and expertise with someone like me.

Support and funding for school sports are essential. I also see more opportunities if Lopez had a Parks and Recreation District where community members could share their expertise with the next generation, regardless of vocation. Youthful dreams come in all shapes and sizes, but they all need guidance and support. There could be no better place than Lopez for youth to learn and master a craft or skill of their calling, nor a place more equipped with potential life-changing mentors for those seeking new knowledge. I will vote yes for “Lopez Rec,” and I encourage you to do the same.

Galen Westervelt

Lopez Island