Dear Editor,
Fifth Street in Linn is in terrible shape. It leads to the east entrance of McGuire Park and to County Road 621. There is a gravel road (unplated) running through the park that could be used when repair work is being done on Fifth Street. It would save everyone using this road 32 miles or less depending on where they reside. There is a possibility of the city putting in a detour at a great expense (not prudently using taxpayers’ money) or they could open the park road which they closed. The cost 10-20 loads of gravel (if damage occurs) much cheaper than a detour.
This unplated road leads to another road. (Both of which was built by the City). This is the water tower road.
Parks are for people. People need this road. Who uses Fifth Street? The residenst of CR 621, the mailman, the school bus driver, the milk carrier, UPS, Fed-X, farmers, LP gas delivery, the patrons of Roy Smith, the customers of Fennewald Garage, those who use the drive through at Mid America Bank and people going to the park.
Anyone can have accidents or be ill and need immediate help. Would you be happy knowing that help was on their way traveling the extra miles or fiddling with a locked gate on public property? Talk about possible law suits. THINK ABOUT IT.
Yes, it is a park road controlled by the City. Most people drive slower when children are playing baseball, soccer or on the equipment. If the concern is for their safety, put in speed bumps. Close both entrances-no vandalism then. Is that realistic? NO. Please use common sense and open this road built with taxpayer money on land that was bought with money willed for a park by Mr. McGuire.
He wanted Linn to have a wonderful park, for which I am personally grateful. I have lived across from the park before it was a park. It was just a hayfield in the bottom.
Let the people use the park and its road and not ever be locked on either end - unless the park road itself is getting paved. What an idea! Thanks for letting me vent.
Carol Dill Zweifel
