Article Contributed on: 12/15/2006 3:54:44 PM
"Don't get us wrong: the Lakewood Sentinel editorial board thinks the land swap is a win-win situation for Rooney Valley residents, wildlife and the city's future."
(from The Lakewood Sentinel Editorial Page, Thusday, December 14, 2006.)
As stated by the Sentinel, in the end the vote that makes the most sense for Lakewood residents, both two-legged and four-legged, is a vote FOR the land exchange to create the 22-acre corridor open space area.
When you get your ballot in the mail, consider carefully whether it would be better to have our 22 acres of open space off of a very busy Alameda Avenue and broken up by the entrance road into the new Solterra development, or whether it would be better to have it connecting Hayden Green Mountain Park, Coyote Gulch Park, and Bear Creek Lake Park and in the area where established and well-used trails already exist.
It's a simple issue: both parcels are currently undeveloped except for the trails existing on the parcel to be received by the city. Considering the fact that residents have always enjoyed the corridor area for biking and dog-walking, the exchange, made in accordance with the long-standing Rooney Valley Master Plan for the area, is a positive move for the city.
Be sure to vote and mark your ballots FOR the ordinance establishing the land exchange!