Sinaloa expansion not a good use of tax dollars

In reading that Simi Valley would be reduced to two public golf courses, I was excited to see that $925,000 would be used to expand the existing family friendly Sinaloa Golf Course. The manner in which the article was written led me to believe that the funds would go to expanding the golf course from 25 acres to 38 acres.

After speaking with several people and the golf course personnel, I found a different story.

Rancho Simi Parks and Recreation District would like to put in a game arcade building, a water park with a four-story-high water slide and 54 miniature golf holes for $20 million more than the $925,000 listed in the paper.

Plus, none of the $925,000 would go to the current family friendly Sinaloa Golf Course. And this is all because families supposedly have nowhere to go in Simi Valley.

Miniature golf is available off the 101 Freeway in Ventura and at the 405/101 interchange in Sherman Oaks.

Water parks are only comfortable in summer months. Game arcades have historically become criminally active hangouts, and the games won't rival what is available for the home.

Plus, the risks associated with a theme park of this proposed nature and size would disrupt the existing golf environment and ultimately prove to be unattractive to both families and business owners.

And since this location is not directly off a freeway, anything other than an additional nine holes would be family unfriendly and a neighborhood invasion.

Please let our elected officials know that this is unacceptable in anyone's backyard. Keep it off a freeway and not in a residential area. In the meantime, dust off your Neighborhood Watch signs and hold on to your tax dollars. Mark H. Griffith Simi Valley