I am the daughter of one of the parents who has been working with you and the City Council to get back the open green space that was taken away last fall in Church Square Park. As you know, the last open grassy space was blocked off with trees. I am 14 years old, and I still remember how important that space was when I was younger. I thought a kid's perspective would be useful to you.
When I was younger it was the one part of the park that was most important to me and my friends. It was the one place where a little kid could go and play catch with their parent or kick a ball around with their friends. It's the perfect place for younger kids because it's near the middle of the park so there is less risk of them chasing balls into the street. It was also great because little kids didn't have to compete with the older, bigger kids using the other open space in the park that is now Astro-turfed.
I realize that there were a lot of times when the field got muddy and ugly, but I really do think there are ways to keep the grass nice and still let kids play on it at limited times. I know the importance of trees. I also know that no one asked for the trees in the park to be removed, just moved 30 feet so that this precious little field would be open once again to everyone. It's only four small trees but they will become big trees soon. Once they become big they will be too hard to move.
To many more kids than you realize, that field was the only free space they had because many of them don't have backyards or any other kind of open place to play. It was tough for the kids to lose their space because now they have no free space left. My dad says you don't want to move the trees even a little for the kids because you're angry with the City Council. Please don't make little kids the victims here. That would be a shame because trees can last 100 years, and a lot of kids would love to use that little space. Can you please help them?
Sincerely,
Emily Losordo, age 14
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