Baird
Creek Parkway Controversy
by Rebecca Leighton Katers,
Clean Water Action Council
The final push for the preservation of the Baird Creek
Heights area is now underway. Citizens need to help raise $200,000
by May 1, 1998.
Baird Creek Heights is a gorgeous 34 acre old
growth forest, filled with large oaks, maples and hemlock, located along
Baird's Creek on Green Bay's east side. It lies east of Interstate
Highway 43 next to Christa McAuliffe Park, and is one of the last remnants
of old forest in our entire area. This forest is especially valuable
because citizens are nearby to enjoy and appreciate it.
Although this land had been on the city map for years as an intended
addition to the Baird Creek Parkway system, a developer purchased it and
has been putting pressure on the Green Bay Mayor and City Council to rezone
it to allow development with exclusive high-priced housing.
Now, the Baird Creek Parkway Preservation Foundation has formed to
raise $200,000 towards the purchase of the land, and has already
raised $75,000. The city has pledged another $200,000 and finally
the state's Stewardship Fund (under DNR) has offered $500,000 towards the
$1 million which the assessors claim the property is now worth.
If you have been looking for a good cause to donate to, this is the
one. It's a great opportunity to save one of the "last best places"
within the boundaries of the City of Green Bay for today's citizens and
especially for the children of tomorrow.
How
You Can Help
If you'd like to help preserve this wonderful forest, please
send donations (from $5 to $10,000), to: Baird Creek Parkway
Preservation Foundation, Patty Ripp, Treasurer, 2717 Old Coach Road, Green
Bay, WI 54302. For more information, call Paul Abrahams, at
920-465-3693.
Tours
Available
Well-known horticulturist Paul Hartman will guide tours through the
Baird Creek Heights area EVERY SUNDAY
at 1:00 p.m. Meet him at Christa McAuliffe Park.