Local elections are happening tomorrow, so let’s get out the vote! Whether you’re a Lesley Knope or more of a Ron Swanson, your vote counts. One of the most discussed measures on the ballot is Proposition P, the so-called “Arch Tax.” If Proposition P is passed, the sales tax will be raised by three-sixteenths of a cent for the next 20 years in St. Louis City and St. Louis County, a miniscule tax increase with the potential to raise $31.4 million a year. We encourage you to vote yes on Prop P.

Sixty percent of the money raised would be allocated to Great Rivers Greenway District, an organization originally created in 2000 and devoted to the creation of an interconnected system of greenways, parks and rivers. Half of that money, or 30 percent of the overall funds, will be dedicated to improving the Arch grounds, under the management of GRG. The other half will go to municipal parks. The Arch grounds themselves need improvement, not only in terms of beautification but also in terms of accessibility. More than just a tourist attraction, the Arch is a symbol of St. Louis. The power of community symbols as rallying points cannot be underestimated.

A further 19 percent of the funds raised would be allocated to county parks, 13 percent to municipal parks and eight percent to other city parks. St. Louis is known for having a great public parks system. All of us at one time or another have taken advantage of St. Louis’ park system, whether jogging in Forest Park, sledding down Art Hill or simply taking a stroll to the St. Louis Zoo. Supporting this public good in such a small way is not only civically responsible but would have tangible benefits for everyone at Wash. U. Improving the quality of the surrounding area will only encourage prospective students to come to Wash. U. and then stay after graduation. Other tangential economic benefits include the stimulation of construction jobs.

Beautifying St. Louis’ parks system will not serve all the problems St. Louis faces. We’ve heard it all before: the City of St. Louis’ public schools system is miserable and just recently received provisional accreditation from the Missouri State Board of Education. Racial and socioeconomic divides persist despite years of legal desegregation. Though one of America’s major cities, St. Louis is now synonymous with urban decay.

Investing in beautifying the city and county doesn’t solve a lot the deep-rooted institutional problems that face the area, but one of the best ways to encourage growth and prosperity in an urban area is to make it liveable. One of the best ways to make a city liveable is to improve its green spaces. A fraction of a cent increase in sales tax is far from onerous. Take a small step to improving St. Louis and vote yes on Prop P.