Awards & Testimonials
Published: Wednesday, July 14, 2004
Reprinted with permission from the Everett Herald
 A can-do spirit makes Marysville the place to be
The most creative entrepreneur has nothing on the City of Marysville these days.
Smart investments in economic development, new recreational opportunities and a willingness to partner with other governments on big-picture projects are all part of a strategy that is bringing a welcome sense of excitement to this growing city.
The most recent example came Monday, when the City Council stepped forward to help fill a funding shortfall for the widening of the 172nd Street overpass north of the city - a step many other cities would have hesitated to take. The council voted unanimously to contribute up to $400,000 to the much-needed project after bids came in some $2 million higher than expected. Other sources are expected to fill the rest of the need, sparing the $9 million project an indefinite delay.
Answering the call from its Arlington neighbor is just one example of the partnerships Marysville sees as critical to its own future and that of the region. The city's relationship with the Tulalip Tribes is growing under the leadership of Mayor Dennis Kendall and Chief Administrative Officer Mary Swenson, and partnerships with Snohomish County, the state and the federal government also are bearing fruit.
There are plenty of reasons for those living in and around Marysville to be excited. Long-awaited improvements to State Avenue are nearly complete, providing an easier, much more pleasant drive along the busy thoroughfare. Three full-size soccer fields have been installed in the city's north end, offering youth and adults a much-needed venue. Existing walking trails near Sunnyside Boulevard are part of a greater plan to create a trail system that includes stretches along scenic Ebey Slough. A new waterfront park on the slough, complete with boat launches, is currently under construction. When completed, it will afford citizens something they've wanted for generations: easy waterfront access.
The investment in the 172nd overpass reflects the city council's recognition that facilitating smart growth and economic development is the key to raising the city's quality of life and giving the city adequate financial resources. The city hopes to annex parts of the Lakewood area to the west of I-5, so easing the traffic snarls leading to the overpass is in the city's interest.
Its investment in four detention ponds in the north end will open the door to smart commercial development, whether or not the city's effort to attract a NASCAR track succeeds.
It's an example of the can-do spirit that is driving Marysville these days, one other cities in the county would be smart to emulate. | 
