Letter: City needs more parks, not bicycle trails

My husband and I regularly walk the trail south of 37th Ave. SW down Edgewood Road, passing by the sign, Beverly Gardens Park. Frequently, we see other walkers, some pushing strollers with small children.

One particularly warm day, I suggested we walk down the road to Beverly Gardens Park, thinking there would be picnic tables and a nice place to sit. What a surprise. No park, no picnic tables, no benches, not a sign of anything that looked like a park. Just a dirt trail that leads to the historic and meandering Prairie Creek. My thought was, 'What a beautiful place for a park!”

While reading the Aug. 11 article 'Voters get say on water and land bond sale,” I thought it interesting that we are asked to vote for $18 million to focus on 'trails and parks.” Where will those parks be? Will they have even a small area for a place to sit, relax and enjoy the sights and sounds? Or will we be paying to develop and maintain more bicycle trails?

Sandie Slinger

Cedar Rapids