August 16, 2004
The Ax Fell at Dyckman Park
Impending Doom - Catch it Before it's Gone
We had a tragedy today.
In some minds, it is a small thing. We lost a number of trees that have been with us for a while -- cleaning our air, blocking us from strong winds, sheltering birds, being a most lovely background to a pretty christmas scene.
These trees made Dyckman Park a tranquil setting.
One reason I created this site was those trees. We started fighting for them way back in April, as soon as we saw the fast one the DDA and the City was pulling on us.
You see, they needed to make the downtown main street feel a little more like Wal-Mart in order to attract shoppers (you know, park and walk into the store) and those trees were in the way.
The trees fell because we couldn't get the word out fast enough or to enough people, though everyone we told hated the idea, especially the "Summer People". "They are...why?" Was the response we got across the board from almost everyone we told of the plan, but to no avail.
Those trees are gone.
Maybe we can stop the next catastrophe from happening by getting the word out soon enough. South Haven does have a number of special things left they have not yet destroyed.
Posted by Denise at August 16, 2004 09:04 PM
Comments
Hi Denise,
I am very sorry about the loss. Good work trying to save them!
If they plan to take more and theres no time, send a press release to the press, tell them you will stay in that tree or take turns staying in the tree until the trees have due process (ie a public meeting). Have some friends bring you food. Everyone will know once you make a peaceful but controversial scene :). It may not save the tree but it will get the word out and give you a chance.
Also, after the fact you could go to your county commission and ask what can be done to require a public meeting/process before something like that is allowed to happen next time. Good Luck with Corporate America. POD
Posted by: Patience O'Dowd at August 18, 2004 11:38 PM
Thanks so much, Patience. Great advise. I hate to think about going up against Corporate America! We didn't have much luck with City Hall and they are elected officials.
Posted by: Denise at August 20, 2004 01:05 PM
Headline in SH Trib: "Construction resumes for downtown's new Focal Point"
Congratulations to South Haven!!!
After an exhaustive search via the internet, I found that South Haven has a remarkable FIRST. Thanks to the perspicacity and tenacity of the City Council and the DDA, by overriding concerns of residents and visitors, South Haven now has a new Focal Point, the first of its kind in the world. Move over London, with your Thames River and Buckingham Palace, Paris with your Eiffel Tower,the Seine and the Louvre! Out of the way New York and Central Park and the Statue of Liberty. Forget you, Chicago,with your Hancock Building, Navy Pier and Grant Park. So Seattle has a needle, St. Louis has an arch. Big deal. All these pale before our new Focal Point--the Huron Street parking lot! What a TRIUMPH!
Posted by vikke on August 23, 2004 04:08 PM
Posted by: Vikke at August 23, 2004 04:12 PM
I still suggest a recall petition. I don't live in South Haven, but they city council) need to know that there are consequences for their actions. It will help too if we elect Jessie Olson (Green Party candidate) to the County Commission board. As a lawyer and an environmentalist, she would know more ways to prevent this kind of travesty from happening again.
chuck jordan
Posted by: Chuck Jordan at September 1, 2004 12:37 AM