celery pond

The group of CPA members who met last night under the pavilion at Stanley Johnston Park came up with more ideas to promote public awareness. We also decided that the next CPA meeting, scheduled for Monday, September 11th at 6:00pm, will be conducted indoors in the Public Library. We think this central location and the indoor facility will bring in more interested citizens.

Another public walk is being scheduled for Sunday, September 17th at 4pm. The whole community will be encouraged to come, meeting at Black River Park and the Public Boat Launch off of Dunkley Avenue. Everyone in town should know about it, so spread the word to your friends, families, and even second home residents who occupy 53% of the population/tax-payers according to one CPA member. The CPA members are organizing their talents and efforts to promote this Second Community Walk of public lands, so stay tuned.

The CPA feels that the public lands should remain in public hands. The public land includes the parcel of the Celery Pond which the City owns, along with the 14 acres of land bordered by Dunkley Avenue and Black River. As the Council approved a design plan made by Abonmarche, this concept, once applied will gradually seek to sell parcels of these public lands to outside bidders, ie.residential and commerical developers.

Come and see the waterfront property that you presently own. Walk with us, and come and talk with us to re-evaluate this decision. As a taxpayer, everyone has part ownership of this valuable property, and any potential sale of this requires many sessions of thoughtful and informed discussion, with the possible re-assessment of what has been approved as a concept for operation.

The CPA group also discussed the non-profit application of the 501 C-3 and, another alternative to investigate, the Alliance for the Great Lakes. The CPA considered the draft of a mission statement which will appear in a later posting. Along with the public lands issue, the CPA wants to secure Celery Pond lands, with the hope of turning it into a nature sanctuary so many generations of citizens and visitors can appreciate this ecosystem. The eco-tourism is a booming business and this wetland, could be part of that phenomena.

And in reviewing the outcome of last Monday’s Council approval of the Abonmarche conceptual design, and the City Manager’s outline of future steps, the blog author gave a report of a meeting which she had last week with the environmental lawyer who the CPA has hired. Options and strategies were discussed. If you want to know more details and get involved at this grass roots level, please attend the next meeting. We will also be glad to accept any donations that you care to make to cover on-going expenses. More information on a PO Box address will be given, as soon as paperwork is approved.

So please make your calendars: CPA Meeting on September 11th, 6:00pm, Public Library, and the Second Community Walk, September 17th, 4pm meeting at Black River Park/Public Boat Launch on Dunkley Avenue (north).