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� � � page 2 ef� <br /> These exciting possibiiities seem to me to be far more interesting <br /> and worth�vhile than the proposed play�;round. Such construction <br /> would be wastefully expensive and unnecessary. The large playground <br /> at Elizabeth Gardner School, even more centrally located within <br /> Orono, stands empty except during school hours. <br /> On Casco Circle its��f� it is not possible to go more than � few <br /> hundred feet between swing sets� tree swings, trampolines, tennis <br /> courts and jun�le gyms. Docks� beaches, water slides and rafts <br /> abound. There are two public beaches tivithin walking distance at <br /> which the Upper Tonka Council offers swimming lessons each sumr.ier. <br /> In the winter time several families maintain large, floodlit sk�ting <br /> rinks for the enjoyment of their neighbors, and the city maintains <br /> a �ood hockey and skating rink on Casco Avenue. The lots are large <br /> and many h�.ve room for football and softball games. In short� <br /> recreation for this a.�;e group is prof.usely available. <br /> Oddly, while under—use would be the main problem I see for a play— <br /> ground, the one—season yearly (school field trip time) over—use <br /> might be an equal burden. Both from the standpoints of what the <br /> land can stand and where the busses or cars would park, such usage <br /> would destroy all p�ssibilities for the Park to be preserved or <br /> maintained in a natural state. <br /> I suggest that the funds allocated for the purchase of playground <br /> equ'Ypment �vould be better spent on a naturalist' s plan for land <br /> use as a nature area� includin� his su�gestions for the mapp�ng <br /> out of footpaths. City maintainence might be re�uced to tree— <br /> trimming. The council should alBro act now to enforce its regulations <br /> ag�.inst mo�orized vehicles within the boundries of The Park, incl— <br /> uding taggin� those residents who now use its perimiters as parking <br /> lots. <br /> Should your interest in maximum resAect for the land and maximum <br /> use by the widest ages of people be such that you are willin� to <br /> persue this idea I would be happy to help e�tablish a neig•hborhood <br /> co�runittee to be of what help it could. "vVith such a plan in the <br /> works you could count on area residents to back you enthusiasticly <br /> and to help �vith the labor. <br /> Take care in your deliberations not to fall into the trap of thinking <br /> that a piece of land is not valueable if it is not "used." I <br /> fondly remember Farmer 0'b2alley from Navarre cutting The Park each <br /> year with his horse—drawn mower, treating the nei�;hborhood kids to <br /> horseback rides as he went. And of catching fireflies in a jar from <br /> the s�v�rms of them that set a sumraer' s ni�ht a—blinking. And of <br /> living in delicious fear of garter snakes and foxes. I want the <br /> same for r�y children, growing up in the same place I did and only <br /> 20 years later. There are some thin�s that shouldn't change so <br /> much so fast. . . . . , <br /> ��� -� <br /> 1�:Tr . Kent E. Swanson <br /> c.c. �1[ary Butler 3��9—B Casco Circle <br />