Earth Day is near, and instead of celebrating wildlife the residents of Central Beach are fighting to save it. I am dis-heartened after learning about the project to extend a parking lot through the lush woodlands behind Beachland Elementary School.
These woodlands are the last safe haven for the wildlife in the Central Beach community. I have personally spotted bobcats, tortoises, and other various species either exiting or entering those woods. My daughter and I often see this beautiful little painted turtle; he ventures out occasionally to graze on the low grasses at the edge of the woods. How heartbreaking it would be to see his home turned into a concrete reserve parking space, after he has flourished there for so many years. Furthermore, there are two confirmed active gofer tortoise burrows located almost directly in the line of fire. If this project goes through, I suspect we will see many of these animals lying dead as road kill, simply scraped up off the pavement and discarded like trash.
There are numerous options to resolve the parking concerns at the school. What kind of an example is this “future project” setting for the children? Why not make good use of the woodlands to help teach these children about nature and natural processes in an otherwise artificial environment.
If you care about the fate of these woodlands, please join me in protest on Earth Day Sunday, April 22nd from Noon-2:00pm in front of Beachland Elementary.
Signed,
Laura Guttridge
