Letter: Neighborhood needs a park, not strip mall

I live at Preston Terrace Condominiums. I have lived here since 2010. I am proud of the fact that I have my own condo. I have a nature preserve around me. I have seen a lot of wildlife and we have wild turkeys.

I am concerned about a strip mall development being built on the corner near our property. I am concerned for me and my neighbors. We live here. This is our home.

There are other places that Skogman has for sale that are properly zoned for Votroubek Real Estate Group's project and these properties do not have to go through a zone change. I would rather see this property as a place for students to unwind and relax as they are walking home from school, like a park. A park would honor them more than a Jimmy John's. Let's not market all our green spaces, especially near a forest reserve. Our neighborhood deserves its park space, too. We are a diverse neighborhood made up of families with children, not just Kirkwood students. Please respect our input, too.

Darrick Wagner

Cedar Rapids