On Oct. 29 Wizard wrote:
I would feel much better about the park reformers if I had heard them
point out how little park there truly is on Nicollet Island and what a
shame it is that an historic regional park is treated so shabbily.
Yes, Wizard, size DOES matter. And, undeniably, Nicollet Island is tiny.
That's been the objection to the stadium by many, including park reformers,
who believe it's too much for such a small island.
That's also why the two professional landscape architects on the CAC said
the proposed football stadium is inappropriate. ("Shoehorning" got ugly
results for Cinderella's stepsisters, also.)
But size can be inverse to beauty and value. Think diamonds. Even De LaSalle
cheerleader Nick Coleman called the Island a jewel.
It's also know as the Historical Heart of the City, due in large part to its
unmatched concentration of buildings surviving from Minneapolis's earliest
eras.
It's that piece of the past that draws tourists and natives alike to stroll
the tree-lined paths, ride in the horse drawn carriages or slid silently by
on Segway tours.
And it's the lived-in homes and historic buildings bustling with visitors
who contribute greatly to the safety of those visits.
Alone after dark, I'd choose the Island's paths over those empty stretches
on either river bank any day of the week.
To some, parks mean open space; to others sports fields. Given a little more
reflection, you'd probably acknowledge that parks vary as much as can be
imagined -- from battlefields to wildflower gardens to monuments to tot
lots.
And people DO live in parks. The White House (and the Bush family) sit in
President's Park, operated by the National Park Service. Historic
lighthouses within parks are commonly occupied. Locally, Three Rivers Parks'
Murphy's Landing in Shakopee has residents living in historic buildings.
As to the railroads, Nicollet Island's railroad bridge was the very first to
traverse the Mississippi. While the Island would be quieter without the
railroad, it's integral to its history, as are buildings like the former
sash company (Nicollet Island Inn).
History nuts like me consider the present richer for their existence and
preservation.
But, as to attitudes of the current Park Board majority toward Nicollet
Island -- now that's a whole 'nother nut.
I recently posted (Just Who'll Decide This Election?) my concern that the
intermingling of religious and state interests over the De LaSalle issue are
affecting the election of the Park Board and City Council. This encroachment
far overshadows that of a football stadium.
I value history and parks, but I place a higher priority on protecting our
democratic process.
Christine Viken
Stevens Square/Loring Heights
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