April 14, 2005

I visited the City Council meeting April 4, interested in the subject of the footbridge to Minto-Brown Island Park.

The April 7 article on the meeting came up short by not clarifying that the $2.5 million estimate for the bridge project includes the whole trail connecting Minto and Riverfront parks. Though, in my opinion, with the legal issues regarding navigable-stream access, not to mention the engineering and environmental studies, this estimate might be low.

My concerns are not only for costs and the impact on the wildlife, but also for the increase in the numbers of homeless people living in Minto park with its increased accessibility.

I have personally seen many places in the brush at Minto where people camp.

During the recent good weather, there were two camps in plain view from the birdwatching blind on the slough. Most animal activity takes place at night and can tolerate a certain level of human presence during the day. The homeless "campers" are there night and day.

Granted, homeless people need places to live, but their presence in a wildlife preserve is not appropriate.