The Bend Park & Recreation District has to make tough decisions about the future of parks because its money is limited and the land available is limited.

To help pay for a park and trails at the new development Parkside Place on Bend’s east side off U.S. Highway 20, the district may sell off what’s known as its Litchfield property nearby.

The two properties are near each other. They are about one-third of a mile apart.

The total area of parks and trails at Parkside would be about 5 acres with a 4-acre park site. The Litchfield property is about 1.5 acres.

The Parkside Place purchase price will be about $800,000. The district bought the Litchfield property for $218,000 in 2016 for a future park site. It may be worth nearly triple that now, according to an appraisal.

You could argue that the district doesn’t need both. A park at Parkside Place, the home of future homes for more than 300 people, will help serve the park needs of area on the far east side of town. And with limited money, it may be the best move to sell Litchfield to help the district buy the park at Parkside.

But two members of the park board, Donna Owens and Nathan Hovekamp, voted against a decision that puts Litchfield up for sale. Owens argued the Bend area is losing open space and will likely lose more open space in the future. Hovekamp agreed.

The vote last week was 3-2 to sell Litchfield.

It doesn’t mean the debate is over. The district board may not like any offers it receives on Litchfield or it may reconsider the plan.

The decision is a disappointment for those worried the district is losing the battle of parks to population. But the district can’t do everything it wants.

Tell park board members what you think. You can find out how to contact board members here: bendparksandrec.org/about/board-of-directors