Laserfiche WebLink
From:heather sheehan <br />To:Anna Carlson; Dustin Rief <br />Subject:Summit Beach Park / LLRC proposal <br />Date:Sunday, July 26, 2020 2:13:11 PM <br />Dear Orono City Council: <br />We are writing to let you know that we are in opposition to the proposed plan to build a facility for <br />the Long Lake Rowing Club at Summit Beach Park. Our family has been visiting Summit Beach Park <br />almost every Friday afternoon and evening in the summers for fifteen years. We meet friends for a <br />relaxing evening at the lake with picnics and games and swimming until the beautiful sunset tells us <br />it's time to go home. It's such a special place to us, we recently celebrated a 50th birthday at the <br />beach! <br />We have tried other beaches but have never been able to find the perfect mix of sandy beach, lawn <br />space for games, trees for hammocks, picnic facilities, and friendly people that Summit Beach Park <br />offers. The park is well-used by a variety of people - people launching kayaks and paddleboards, <br />older people swimming long distances in the evenings, and lots of families playing on the beach and <br />in the water. <br />Based on what we have seen proposed - a building in the current wooded area and boat docks - we <br />believe the addition of a building and docks for the rowing club will significantly impact how we and <br />other members of the public will be able to use the beach and park. It will change the feel of park <br />completely so that it will not be inviting for anyone who is not associated with the rowing club. The <br />current swimming area is not very large and if boat docks are added, it seems impossible that the <br />swimming beach could be maintained in any meaningful way. If the beach is somehow maintained, <br />the prospect of rowers and swimmers in such close proximity feels dangerous. <br />Although the rowing club provides a valuable service to some in the community, we are concerned <br />about equal access to all citizens, not just those privileged to be part of the rowing club. We do not <br />believe they should be allowed to take over a public park for their exclusive use when the park is so <br />well utilized by a variety of people. <br />Thank you for your consideration of all sides of this issue. <br />Ken and Heather Sheehan