Kim Cuddeback and Glenn Changar
Many of us, including myself, cherish our time spent at Creve Coeur Park. Whether it is meandering around the lake on a squeaky yellow bike, admiring the skill and grace of the Saint Louis Rowing Club from atop the footbridge, staking out nesting waterfowl from a kayak or enjoying a sunset from the lake’s eastern shore… we all share memories of one of our county’s finest nature spots.
So you can imagine my dismay when I stumbled across the news that developers and city officials in Maryland Heights have plans to commercialize the very land where hundreds of birds and other species make their homes, not to mention one of the few natural treasures of our county where hikers, bikers, birders, rowers, sailors and anglers can escape from the rigors of daily life.
KIM CUDDEBACK says: “I grew up in Maryland Heights, and natural preservation is important to me. We are losing all our open space and wetlands. To lose such a massive part of it is disgusting.”
GLENN CHANGAR says: “We are not only concerned about the loss of this rare unspoiled land next to the largest natural lake in Missouri, but also of the additional problems that go along with it: increased traffic, destruction of wildlife habitat… Creve Coeur Lake is the jewel of Maryland Heights. We treasure it and do not want to see the area surrounding it destroyed in the name of progress.”
For More Information on the battle to protect the area known as Howard Bend at Creve Coeur Park go to: www.savecrevecoeur.com
DO WE REALLY NEED ANOTHER ONE OF THESE??
What do you think? Should the wetlands area west of Creve Coeur Lake be left alone by developers? Or do you think we need more retail and office space to be built on this floodplain?
ALSO, We would love to hear your favorite Creve Couer Park stories? What do you think is the most scenic vantage point in the Creve Coeur Park Area –
– Waterfall at Southeast Access Area?
– Biking/Hiking Path along West Lake Shore?
– Sailing/Rowing Coves?
– Birding Area Southwest of Lake?
– The Canal and Mallard Lake portion?
– Bridge overlook near the boathouse?
– Other?
* PLEASE POST YOUR COMMENTS BELOW *
Thank you so much for naming Kim and I “Nature Nurturers of the Week.” Thanks in part to your article and blog on our group, Maryland Heights Residents for Responsible Growth, we had over 130 people show up at our Open House August 19th. The idea that the city of Maryland Heights could be so short-sighted about this amazing property, with one of the only area of wetlands left in St. Louis County, is absolutely mind-boggling. After all, the Mayor and City Council are all residents. This is their park, too!
Hopefully a big showing at the next Planning and Zoning Commission meeting, August 26th, will help them realize that the citizens don’t really want another place to buy a cheap shirt, they want their park. If the city had any sense, they would buy the property and annex it to Creve Coeur Park, before it is gone, because as you know, once it is gone, it can never be recovered.
Thanks again,
Glenn Changar
Maryland Heights Residents for Responsible Growth
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It’s imerpaitve that more people make this exact point.