Don’t sacrifice green space for projects

Don Karr and Chuck Wieneke (City Council members) favor building the 14,000 square foot Time Check Recreation Center in the heart of Ellis Park (Music in the Park location). A closer examination of the blueprint outlines a 100,000-square-foot recreation center for future expansion. I'm in favor of a recreation center for the youths of Cedar Rapids and the revitalization of the flood-impacted neighborhoods and families, but not at the expense of destroying one of the most beautiful and serene parks in Cedar Rapids.

What's next, sell the Ellis Park Golf Course to build affordable housing or the park frontage along Ellis Boulevard to put in fast food or other businesses? I believe the role of the mayor and City Council is to protect the parks and other natural resources of the residents and not trade it for some green space wetland farther down the river.

Imagine a green space with five to six existing houses spread out through the area and not the green space pictured in The Gazette.

Gary Gilbertson

Cedar Rapids