We wish to share with the Mayor and Belfast City Council, the public, and Belfast Bay Watershed Coalition our thoughts and feelings. 

 

First, thank you for thinking of our father, Skip, in relation to the Little River Community Trail. In all fairness, the trail was made possible by many people being organized through the sponsoring BBWC organization.

 

As much as my father enjoyed being outdoors, he equally enjoyed involving others, both adults and the young people from school helping to build and maintain the trails. He would always prefer attention be directed away from him and toward the community efforts that have increased access to the natural world.

 

Second, different groups recently have brought to public awareness the importance of keeping names with their physical/environmental associations. So that would mean keeping the 'Little River Community Trail', as the LRCT. 

 

Lastly, while our father was a complex thinker whose notions and opinions could always surprise us, we think it's very likely he would want you to honor the Little River Watershed for its abundance of environmental riches by leaving it untouched and available for community generations to come. 

 

We think he would probably be disturbed to know of industrial development plans that displaces 40 acres of watershed, making meaningful trail habitat incompatible for wildlife, birds, nature sounds and smells. 

 

Again, we appreciate your desire to honor our father’s dedication to connecting community members to the restorative pleasures of walking a trail through the woods.  But we feel the proposal would have him “rolling over in his grave”,  and instead hope to have his spirit rest in peace.

 

We wish you all the best in helping to create healthy community in these challenging times.