To the editor:
I must add my voice to the commotion recently regarding the addition of 4 more miles to the existing 22-mile Heritage Trail that extends from Empire to Good Harbor Bay at Bohemian Rd. To add additional four miles (predicted to cost a minimum of $10 million) at a cost exceeding that of the existing 22 miles is, first of all, a lot of money. Secondly, the four-mile, 25-foot wide trail will destroy wildlife of all kinds for the enjoyment of humankind. What? Just to get riders further, to Good Harbor Trail? A bad idea for many reasons.
To build this asphalt bike trail there will be over 5,000 trees cut down (per a recent Biologist survey), loss of wetlands and dunes where a concrete wall will be needed to hold them back.
The mature trees absorb CO2 and produce O2 which is needed to fight escalating Climate Change. Wetlands are needed for its water filtration system and the dunes should be left alone. Sometimes changing one thing can lead to disaster for another.
What are TART and the Sleeping Bear Nat’l Park System thinking?
Berta Meserve Lake Ann
