The Vashon Park District is asking islanders to participate in a survey that will serve as the first step in the district’s creation of a strategic plan to address long-term finances and projects.

The 25-question survey is available online at vashonparks.org and can be printed, completed and mailed back to the district’s P.O. box. For a paper copy, call the office at 463-9602 and one will be mailed.

Vashon Park District (VPD) Executive Director Elaine Ott said that the district has been without a strategic plan since 2001 and, therefore, has had no long-term guidance for maintenance, operations and large projects such as the pool or Tramp Harbor dock.

“We need community input on deferred maintenance and capital projects,” she said referencing the fact that the district has a “significant backlog” of deferred maintenance. “It’s helping us with the priorities.”

Included in the survey are questions about maintenance and projects, but also about content and pricing of VPD recreational programs, the sale of surplus properties and VPD property tax levy options, including the possibility of becoming a Metropolitan Park District, which could allow the parks to increase its property tax levy.

“Major decisions involving scarce financial resources will be based on the results of this survey; therefore, it is essential that we have your participation,” Ott said in a statement.

Survey participants can also qualify for a $250 gift certificate to be drawn from a lottery of those who complete the survey.

The survey has been in the works for months. The previous VPD Board approved $30,000 to be spent on the creation of the survey, and Beckwith Consulting was contracted in May to create the questionnaire.

“How far is the community willing to go? That’s what we need to answer,” Ott said.

— Anneli Fogt