Letter to the Capital-Gazette - Dick Lahn
To: The Capital-Gazette Newspaper
August 13, 2007
Letter to the Editor
The Capital article on Crofton First’s survey showing public support
for having a Park along the Little Patuxent River -- including previously
proposed Wal-Mart site -- attributes Crofton First’s co-chairman
saying that a park is not likely to happen; “Mr. Berkshire wants
to get paid for his land.” This non-sequitur was not said. No
one is asking the property owner to donate the land even though he supports
the park. Crofton First supports the Berkshire Greenway. If the Park
is created, it is because County, State and Federal governments step
up and pay for this land which, they all say they want.
The federal National Fish and Wildlife Service wants this land protected
to extend the wildlife corridor from the Patuxent Wildlife Refuge to
Jug Bay and on to the Chesapeake Bay. The State of Maryland wants this
land protected because it is within the bounds of a designated State
Scenic River, in the critical area, and is a part of the Patuxent Greenway
System established to
protect “important” lands. The County wants this land
-- has already purchased over 80 acres as parkland – to fulfill
its decision to protect the entire tract designated as the
“Patuxent Greenway”.
Coming to the Crofton – Gambrills – Odenton area is BRAC
bringing a large increase in population, proposed Route 3 shopping centers
with big-box stores, increased traffic throughout the area – particularly
on Route 3 and its already failing intersections, approved housing projects
in the thousands of units, and a major investigation into fly-ash polluted
drinking water wells.
The future is already here. Balance is key. Anne Arundel County is last
in the State in the amount of public land preserved per resident. Who
speaks for the residents of West County? Who speaks for the land?
Dick Lahn
Member Crofton First
The following two pictures are of the proposed park area as it existed
30 to 40 years ago when it was part of Walch’s Grove Picnic Area.
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