Paving paradise

Once there was a village green nestled in a hamlet along the river;

Once there were community gardens bursting with food & flowers for all;

Once there were walking trails...for 2 legged and 4 legged joggers...& folks in wheel chairs.

Once there were picnic tables and benches beneath leafy trees and shady evergreens.

Once there were grassy spaces with room for games and fun galore.

Once there was a place of community, of camaraderie and conversation.

Alas, in the name of 'progress,' all that is gone now - despite the wishes of the local folks.

Even the experts said, 'Stop! THIS is NOT a good plan.' Worst of all the party behind the betrayal is a local - someone who should care about the community ... and what the community thinks. Apparently, said party thinks money, development (the wrong kind) and his own priorities over ride what's good for the community...or what the community values.

The loss of open spaces is a serious problem nationwide. The U.S. loses over 2.19 MILLION acres of open space & natural lands to development per year. This staggering figure breaks down to 6,000 acres every day —or about 4 acres per minute—vanishing to urban sprawl, the cancer of subdivisions, infrastructure, commerce, etc. 

Once it's gone, it's gone...

Libby just joined the push to pave paradise. Why were 'hearings' not held until after the fact ... after a fait accompli? Both city residents and the MANY peripheral folks who call Libby home should have had a say in the matter. We all said that we 'didn't want to become Whitefish.' 

Nobody listened.

Faith in government at all levels just shrank again and more local history erased. Libby could and should do better.

C.A. Disney, Libby