Having been involved in a few controversial community issues — both on the pro and con side — I appreciate community dialogue (preferably civil) over the issues. This is our community, and we need to be mindful about how it evolves. Umpteen hours at the mic and on email are all to a good purpose: coming to a resolution on which we can move forward. Now is the time for the Mercer Island Center for the Arts (MICA) to move forward.

My favorite advocacy article of all time discusses the six stages of civic decision-making, and the problems if a decision is made prematurely at an earlier stage. The community gradually moves from awareness, to wishful thinking, to weighing the choices and eventually making a stand for a solution. A good solid decision is best made when the community evolves through these six stages. We are at stage six when it comes to MICA; the vast majority of the community is ready to make a mindful and sound decision to stand up and make MICA happen.

MICA is such an amazing opportunity, providing an anchor building for a community-oriented downtown, arts programming for kids and adults and a crown jewel for Mercer Island. The city process has been thorough and open for several years now, and MICA has done excellent outreach; residents have been drenched in the site details and wide-ranging benefits to our entire population. The choices have been weighed in person, online and in the newspaper. It’s time to move forward, this time with our wallets and our enthusiastic support.

I encourage everyone to sign their support at www.facebook.com/supportmiparksandarts, and start considering how you can support MICA with your time and treasure. And, yes, take the time to unsign the “pro-park petition” that should die unwanted on the vine on May 30.

In closing, to the “pro-park people” who don’t want to build anything anywhere and turn their backs on art, I say: remember that EARTH without ART, is just EH.

Stowe Sprague

Mercer Island