The recent news of funding cuts to various departments was met with different degrees of tolerance and negativity. One group, the Carroll County Park Board, rose to the occasion and turned the bleak situation around to realize the value of change.

Instead of moaning and complaining and organizing letter-writing campaigns to reverse a decision which is not going to be reversed, park board members accepted what was and put their heads together to think of creative, but realistic, ways for them to survive. Their caretakers no longer will be paid a salary for providing mowing and community center rental services. They agreed to stay in their current positions in exchange for a place to live on-site. Youth groups will be engaged to help keep the parks viable for use.

The park board has continued to strive to think of other ways and methods to accomplish what was once funded by tax dollars. They are developing ways to not only increase activity at Deer Creek Park, but they are also developing ideas for practical fundraising activities and a way to secure funds to ensure the park's future. In short, they accepted the inevitable, rolled up their collective sleeves and decided to turn their lemons into lemonade.

The Carroll County Park Board is to be commended for their efforts and their forward thinking to do what they believe needs to be done with a lot less help from tax dollars. The community is privileged to have such a fine group of committed individuals working to preserve that which they believe to be valuable in Carroll County.