I am writing to urge my fellow Kenmore neighbors to vote YES on City of Kenmore Proposition 1 for Walkways and Waterways on the November ballot.

Nothing enhances the quality of an urban or suburban community like parks and transportation. As our cities grow denser and our roads more congested, the kinds of improvements funded by this bond measure will continue efforts to make Kenmore safer for pedestrians and bicyclists and more livable for all residents. Parks in particular strengthen our neighborhoods, add value to our property, and create an overall quality of life that makes our city a desirable place to live and raise our families.

As someone who regularly bikes and walks or runs in the neighborhood, I have greatly appreciated — and benefitted from — the new sidewalks along Bothell Way near 61st Ave., more visible bike lanes along Kenmore arterials and other roads, and park upgrades at Log Boom Park and Northshore Summit.

And I’m not the only one. These kinds of improvements were noted as priorities for Kenmore residents participating in a community planning process last year.

Collectively, they make Kenmore a better place to live.

Vote yes on Proposition 1 in November. It’s a wise investment for all of us and for future generations.

David Takami, Kenmore