Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Today's Letters: Preserve is our promise to kids

By LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Published April 19, 2007

Re: Proposal to build ballfields in Brooker Creek Preserve

The idea to use Brooker Creek Preserve lands for anything other than preserves should be pitched out.

I have been living in Pinellas County since 1969. First I lived on the South Pinellas beaches, and I've watched the degradation of Shell Key and all the beaches in general over the decades.

In the early 1990s, I lived in mid Pinellas and watched the urban sprawl from an area that was formerly used for cows, horses and orange groves.

Now we're looking at paving preserve lands in North Pinellas, where I currently reside. I'm compelled to write at this point to express my disbelief and concern regarding the county administration's plans for land use in the Brooker Creek Preserve and in places like Shell Key.

I think it's time to say enough's enough. I've seen the county administration turn down donated preserve lands in the past to serve private interests and I also wonder about the private interests of the East Lake Youth Sports Association.

So, to send a clear message to the county commissioners and the administration, I want to say that Brooker Creek Preserve was promised to us, the general public, and it should stay that way for all of us and all of our children, not just families who play ball with the East Lake Youth Sports Association.

I have two children who will never use ballfields within the boundaries of Brooker Creek Preserve. My 5-year-old can identify more bird species than some adults I know because I'm taking the time to teach her about our environment and our native species habitats. Stewardship should start young and should be an important part of our active citizenry.

Most of us have heard the warning siren go off, and if we are going to keep promise in our children's future, then we should be preserving more land, not less. If the warning siren goes unheeded and the ballfields are built, it will forever set a bad example for our children and will always represent a failure on our part to act environmentally responsible at a crucial time in history.

If those issues aren't enough, then consider this: Our world is being threatened by global warming, and Florida is rapidly losing wetlands. We need more trees, and our water tables are very low. The last thing we need is to pump water out of the preserve or create an unnecessary water demand elsewhere. Homeowners in East Lake should consider the possibility of sinkholes in surrounding areas if water is ever pumped out of the preserve.

As we alter our environment, we alter our future. We have reached a tipping point, and if we do not change our ways, will we look back and ask: When did we forget to say enough's enough?

Barbara Walker, Palm Harbor

Re: Brooker Creek Preserve

County lacks long-term view

I believe I have read enough about the county's intentions of destroying the Brooker Creek Preserve, little by little, 50 acres at a time. It is clear to me that Pinellas County officials have no more concern for the long-term future of the county than the Clearwater City Council members do for the city.

We have stood by and witnessed the ruination of Clearwater Beach through a roundabout and "Beach By Design." Each step of that desecration process has been accompanied by assurances of the great benefits to follow, while some city officials received personal benefits through one means or another.

Property taxes continue to rise even though the rationale for approving all the high-rise condos was to reduce property taxes.

Before we allow that to happen to the preserve, we must find some way to get this property out of the control of the county. Maybe it needs to be deeded to the Friends of Brooker Creek Preserve with ironclad restrictions that it be maintained as a preserve in its entirety.

Donald R. Roberts, Clearwater

Active sites don't belong in Brooker

The Friends of Brooker Creek Preserve would like to remind the Pinellas County commissioners, staff and the Environmental Science Forum that the Friends are on record as opposing ballfields and other active recreation within the boundaries of Brooker Creek Preserve.

This includes the environmentally healthy "pine plantation" site as well as the cleared and landscaped, but undeveloped and restorable, "water blending facility" site, and any other site within the boundaries of Brooker Creek Preserve, now and any time in the future.

Although there is undoubtedly a need in North Pinellas County for more ballfields, these very active places do not belong in the preserve. Ballfields and other active recreation are not part of the Brooker Creek Preserve Management Plan.

The preserve land is neither zoned nor comprehensive land use designated for such activities. Ballfields, if allowed anywhere on preserve land, would indeed set a horrific precedent.

Our expectation of our elected county officials and the county staff is that all potential options be thoroughly researched, documented, communicated to the public and discussed in open, fully informed, public debate. We have the right to expect nothing less. Such open, fully informed, public debate should avoid most of the tribulations of the sort that we have experienced recently.

Walter H. Hoskins, chairman, Friends of Brooker Creek Preserve Inc.

Your voice counts

You may submit a letter to the editor for possible publication through our Web site at www.tampabay.com/letters, or by faxing it to (727) 445-4119, or by mailing it to Letters, 710 Court St., Clearwater, FL 33756. You must include your name, address and phone number. Letters may be edited for clarity, taste and length.

[Last modified April 18, 2007, 22:34:07]