Thunder Hill Park Alliance Letter to Howard County Council spring 2006
Wednesday, May 24th, 2006To: Chris Merdon, Chair, Calvin Ball, Charlie Feaga, Guy Guzzone, Ken Ulman
From: Thunder Hill Park Alliance
Re: Budgetary allocation for “Blandair Regional Park”
Before a decision is made about funding the county Parks and Recreation Department request for “design fees” and “utilities” for “Blandair Regional Park,” we ask you to consider the following:
• Once design fees are granted, the destiny of the Smith property is decided: there is no turning back.
• The Parks and Recreation Department has clearly indicated its decision to blacktop and cement over the natural environment to build lighted tournament ball fields, parking lots and tourist attractions.
• This 300-acre site is in the center of Columbia, a planned community, where respect for the environment is one of the four founding values. People in Columbia aren’t allowed to cut down a tree on their own personal property without permission.
• If implemented, the Parks and Recreation Department concept plan would result in the destruction of at least 80% of the Smith property and compromise the environmental integrity of the rest.
• With respect to the process used to justify adherence to the current Parks and Recreation concept plan, we point out that committees can make mistakes. Non-professionals representing special interest groups cannot be expected to act as if they are professional planners and to understand the ramifications of their choices.
• In conclusion, we point out that a Nature Park can be immediately open to the public. It does not require one dime to get it started. We have been unnecessarily locked out since 1998, and, according to Parks and Recreation Department, we will have to wait until at least 2009 before residents are allowed on the property.
• Partners are waiting in the wings to support programming and development.
The Thunder Hill Park Alliance calls upon the County Council to derail the process that would lead to the destruction of the Smith property and to deny funding to support the current plans proposed by the Parks and Recreation Department.