Sammamish, Issaquah have lots in common

Published 7:15 am Monday, August 4, 2014

It was very refreshing to read the article: Other Voices, The benefit of proximity on the Aug. 1 Opinion page of the Issaquah/Sammamish Reporter co-written by two U.S. senators. Not too long ago, in the July 18 edition, there was a very upbeat coverage of the joint meeting between the city councils of Sammamish and Issaquah, which reported on the two councils focusing on a renewed relationship and what the two cities have in common.

This commonalty is certainly made observable by the two very intricate park systems of both cities. A current goal of many places is to have a series of interconnecting parks and trails referred to as an Emerald Necklace. As our two towns certainly are distinctive gems, they might be referred to as two neighboring pearls in a necklace of communities encircling the Puget Sound.

However, parks are certainly not the only embellishment that Sammamish and Issaquah have in common. They host summer concerts, outdoor Shakespeare productions, have active Farmers Markets, share a school system and remarkably even a newspaper.

It is not a contest of which is the best, but more importantly how these two municipalities can support and enhance each other. This could be an example of where great fences make great neighbors.

Larry Crandall, Sammamish