To the editor:
I have been closely following the township meetings and the neighbor’s comments about Palmer Woods Forest Reserve’s new off-road parking area. I am a resident on Wheeler Road where I own three parcels of land. I bought them specifically because they are directly across the road from Palmer Woods.
Every day I look out my windows, I am grateful for the foresight and hard work that the Leelanau Conservancy has done, and is doing, to conserve, reserve, and provide access to this beautiful forested area. When I walk across the dirt road to the main parking area, I meet neighbors, friends, and outdoor enthusiasts from near and far. Sometimes, the parking lot is a gathering spot for volunteers and passionate staff members to meet up for seed collection, tree planting, or trail maintenance. More often, the people there are connecting and reflecting on the day’s ride or walk, sharing their reverence for the beauty of the woods, and their observations of flora, fauna, and funga. I treasure these interactions because this is my community: the tribe of people who love Palmer Woods.
To my neighbors, your opinions show how much you care and, “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.” While people don’t always see eye-to-eye, what we do share is the gratitude in our attitude. We are all grateful for the Conservancy and Palmer Woods. In my humble opinion, they Saved paradise and... they’re putting in a parking lot.
David A. Leith Maple City
