Public parks are an important component when one considers quality of life, and Marietta has them in abundance.
But as in any public resource used over and over again through the years, they're seeing their share of wear and tear. City Council and the administration are looking at ways to make major repairs, but the people who use and benefit from the parks can help as well.
The simplest way is just to take care of the parks when you use them. Pick up your trash; clean up after your dog; do your best to leave things in the same condition you found them.
It doesn't have to end there.
As some posters on www.MariettaTimes.com recently noted, citizens can pitch in to improve the parks with volunteer labor and service. There are plenty of civic groups in town that take on projects to benefit the community. Some have already helped the parks, such as the Marietta Area Community Tennis Association, which recently renovated a couple of tennis courts at Lookout Park.
They're not the only ones. But it's obvious work still needs to be done.
Perhaps residents of the neighborhoods in which the parks are located could get something organized with the city to do periodic litter pickups. Maybe there are other odd jobs that could be taken on by volunteers as well.
Yes, the parks are the city's responsibility, but all residents benefit from a strong park system, in terms of quality of life, improved property values and the like. And the city government - as in all governments, businesses and individuals - is trying to save as much money as it can.
It could be a win-win situation.
