To the editor:
After reading the article about the second plan for re-use of the Shawano Medical Center property, I felt compelled to comment.
Realizing that the committee has a very difficult task of trying to satisfy all the different concepts that must be coming from the community, one that seems to be missing to me is the Wolf River Beach. Both of the plans would dissolve the public access for swimming in the river.
At this location presently we have the Shawano Ski Sharks water ski team performing during the summer. There isn’t a warm day when I come into town across the MM bridge that there are not 10 to 20 children swimming in the river. The two plans submitted do nothing to address this.
In my opinion, we have a great opportunity in front of us to create a destination for everyone and utilize this location to the maximum benefit of all.
Why not expand the beach area, make an area for the Ski Sharks, and, yes, we can still accommodate townhomes or condos, and assisted living in the existing building. Do not raze anything, especially the homes to the south of the property. The best part of the neighborhood is the residences; this is what makes it special.
We, as a community, need to start limiting high-density housing, such as apartments. They are already creating a population explosion in our school system, and it will only become more of an issue in the future.
Let’s really use our imagination, think very hard and not use a cookie-cutter approach suggested by a planning firm. We can create a solution that will be unique to Shawano and make this an even better place to live.
Robert M. Sweeney
Shawano
Categories
