‘They took paradise and put up a parking lot’

Having recently returned from a weekend at the New Jersey shore, I turned into McFarland Drive, passed our spectacular Albert Wisner Library while enjoying the winding road, when out of the corner of my left eye I was startled to witness a gaping hole into the woods.

Trees that once reached up to the sky were downed, piles of earth turned over, with tree roots ripped from the ground. I could not image how or why this had occurred. Large pieces of man-made bulldozer-type equipment held center stage in place of the trees and woodlands. My body said No. I felt weak and dazed. I came to learn from my neighbors and reading an article in this newspaper a plan was made to take down the trees and put up a parking lot as part of Veterans Memorial Park’s plan to expand the park to the public. My mind could hardly comprehend such an idea. Of course, parks are for people. However ,one does not destroy woodlands to put up a parking lot but would rather find an area within the park to provide space for cars or why not keep it a walking and bicycle park? Isn’t that what we had been moving toward, - a village and town for the 21st Century? Moving away from driving our vehicles; getting out to meet and greet our neighbors or just taking a lovely walk; or riding one’s bicycle through the park. A bicycle and walking park with amenities such as a bathroom and places to hook up one’s bicycle for safety reasons would be ideal. Whose idea was it to take down those strong trees and wrench our wildlife from their habitat? Extremely poor judgment in my value system and I bet many others would agree! It’s a sad day in Warwick.

Gail Graf Warwick