03-02-2020 Park Commission Packet

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2 The plans presented by the Long Lake Rowing Club do not appear beneficial to the greater community. If implemented, the permanent presence of the LLRC would dominate use of the park at the expense of others. The proposed docks preclude safe access to the lake by non- rowers. In fact, one dock blocks the beach from the lake and both docks are intended for launching skulls or docking LLRC’s motorized boats; they are not designed or intended for use by the public. The proposed building is designed solely for storage and maintenance of private boats, and private office space; it is not a community space. Increased use of the lake by the LLRC over time seems inevitable if this facility is built. Contrary to comments by the LLRC to the Orono Park Board, LLRC has made recent requests to the Cities of Long Lake and Orono for increasing the number of skulls, adding dock space and expanding time on the lake beyond the expansion they were granted in 2019. The proposed use of Summit Park by the LLRC will lead to unsafe conditions for swimmers, paddle boarders, and rowers, especially if the rowing club increases membership and requires expanded hours on the water. The proposers seem unaware of how the park is used today or the impact of their proposal on the environment and on expanded use of the park by others. We urge you to maintain the natural beauty of this park while enhancing it for use by the larger community and securing it for future generations when natural parks may be rarer. We support the development of the linear park and are excited to see that Orono wants to improve the beach area and expand its use. However, we feel that the proposal by the LLRC does not meet these objectives and is short sighted for the good of the larger community. We urge the LLRC to pursue other options not within proximity of the beach area and at a much smaller scale. We question the appropriateness of this use of public property. Sincerely, Jane Davidson, Frank Kulacki