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Editor’s note: After we received Phillip Welsh’s letter on Jordans Point Park, we reached out to Lexington City Manager Jim Halasz and received the following response.
As city manager I can assure the public that city staff strive to improve the facilities and services we provide to the citizens of Lexington and those visiting our city. In a number of instances what one segment of the community sees as beneficial, another may see as harmful or less preferable. Of course, life would be easier if that were not the case (although likely more boring), but in a city serving all of the public some conflict will always exist regarding priorities and how we best use our resources. That is true in the case of the concerns brought forth by Mr. Welch.
The use of the word “destruction” as it is related to the work in Jordans Point Park is relative. If an individual has a narrow view and is focused solely on assuring all areas of the park nearest the river are maintained in what they consider a natural state, it may be interpreted as destruction. If the needs of other individuals in the community for recreation, access and opportunities to actually view the river are taken into account, the mostly minor thinning of trees is minimal and even beneficial.
The work performed, in general, was to make certain uses and spaces along the river more accessible to a broader number of visitors to the park. A small segment of trail has been added, as suggested in the master plan for the park. Two viewing areas with benches or picnic tables will be available for access for those who want to sit and enjoy the aesthetics of the river. Dead, diseased or poor tree specimens were removed to improve the aesthetic value of the wooded and buffer areas along the river banks.
Preferred tree species and beneficial trees (even smaller ones) identified by the city arborist were carefully maintained, except in a small area where city crews initially misunderstood the scope of the project. The work in this single, small area was not intended and my apology is extended to the community for this failure. In instances where larger trees were removed – these were dead or diseased, poorly formed or nonbeneficial species.
Near the boat launch, a very large, completely dead sycamore was removed. This area has been stabilized and seeded with grass and we will be planting a preferred species of tree on that area. Further, the area adjacent to the head race of the mill race was cleaned in accordance with normal maintenance and safety protocols. There is a sluice gate at the head of the mill race that should stay clear of debris; and further the Miller’s House Committee (that works on the historical aspects of the park) requested better maintenance of the mill race. These areas were not “dozed.”
The riparian buffer noted did have minimal damage when DPW crews used wheel loaders and buckets to remove debris and large dead trees washed into this area by the river. No dirt was removed or peeled back from the area and a keen observer will see that many of the small willows and similar trees and brush still remain and will quickly revegetate the area this spring and summer.
I understand that these minimal changes can alter the aesthetics and appreciation of some users of the park, as has been suggested in the letter from Mr. Welch. However, once again, different users of the park will see these small changes in a different light.
I stand by the work the public works crew did and our intentions behind this work. Use of public space has to be balanced based on the various needs and desires of the public for the use of these spaces. It is not the intent of the city to cause serious environmental harm and I would contend we did not do so. I would invite anyone with an interest to come to the park in mid-summer and look at the areas in question. By the time young tree branches and brushy growth is seen these areas in general will hardly be evident.
