Village parks not forgotten

As volunteer chair and also secretary to the Village Parks Committee, I would like to respond to comments made in the Bee Heard and Letter to the Editor columns of the Amherst Bee published May 23, 2007.

Our Department of Public Works has been working diligently in the village parks since the October storm, which left not only Garrison Park but also Island Park and the Lehigh Memory Trail as major clean-up targets. Mike Parker of the DPW and his crew have done a "Herculean" job of clearing out the tremendous debris and securing the safety of these parks.

Secondly, Mayor Mary Lowther and parks volunteer Brian Kulpa have not been working under the guise of the Village Parks Committee to meet with residents of the Village Square Apartments and making false promises to them for the recreational area at South Long Street that adjoins their property. Both Lowther and Kulpa have given much of their unselfish time and effort to make our parks a better and more beautiful area to enjoy.

We are proud of our accomplishments thus far and want to set the record straight of what is being done as opposed to what is not being done in the village parks.

With respect to Garrison Park, the village pools do not open until the close of the school year. The Village DPW will surely get to this and that timetable. As far as the damaged slide at Garrison park, I understand tape has been placed around it to identify that it should not be used. The village is in the process of either trying to repair or replace the unit.

The village is working with the county and the DEC to address the situation of wood debris in Ellicott Creek.

You are welcome to attend our next Village Parks Committee meeting at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, June 21 at Village Hall.

Lisa A. Fessard

Cadman Drive

Williamsville