elaine Posted February 29, 2008 Posted February 29, 2008 Madrone Wall and climbing enthusiasts: If you've written a letter in support of the Madrone Wall becoming a park and re-establishing access, then please write another one. You can read mine below. You can also read recent updates in the Access Forum. Clackamas County seems to be changing their tune, and not providing subsequent year funding following the completion of the master plan this summer. Please send your e-mails to the following people. Bill Kennemer - billken@co.clackamas.or.us Martha Schrader- marthasch@co.clackamas.or.us Lynn Peterson, Chair- lynnpet@co.clackamas.or.us Dan Zinzer- danz@co.clackamas.or.us Snail mail and phone numbers can be found in the Access Forum with the Feb 2008 update. As always, go to savemadrone.org for info. Thanks! Kellie ----------- February 26. 2008 To: Commissioner Lynne Peterson, Chair Commissioner Martha Schrader Commissioner Bill Kennemer Dan Zinzer, Director, Department of Business and Community Services Rob Smoot, PAB Chair RE: Madrone Wall/ Hardscrabble Quarry Dear Honorable Commissioners, Park Staff, and Parks Advisory Board Members, I am writing to you in regards to the Madrone Wall, and your future plans for this 44 acre publicly owned site as it gets put into the Parks Master Planning process. Back in 2005, a massive letter writing campaign showed overwhelming support for this site to be preserved and be incorporated into your parks master plan as a future park. Over 500 letters and e-mails from citizens within Clackamas County, the Metro area, as well as citizens from across the United States unanimously voiced their support for park creation and re-established recreational and educational access. Numerous and well established conservation groups and businesses have also endorsed the preservation of this site; Friends of Mt Hood, Oregon Equestrian Trails, and even all local-area CPO's within Clackamas County. The list goes on and on. Last April, Commissioner Peterson participated in the Earth Day Tour of this site along with 30 other interested citizens. After the presentation was made and the tour had taken place, our group, the Madrone Wall Preservation Committee, stressed the need for a commitment from Clackamas County for capital improvement funding once the master plan was complete. Many willing businesses ( REI) and non profit groups ( Access Fund, Mazamas) are willing to invest in this site with grant monies as the County establishes funding for park creation. Other large grant agencies, like the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, are well known to County Park staff and are viable sources for matching grants to County funding. If there is no commitment and established timeline for park creation, then grant funding through these outside sources cannot be depended upon to help offset costs that Clackamas County incurs for: parking, bathroom facilities, etc. Commissioner Peterson had urged our group to apply for these grants, and that the money would be there from the County, confirming the County's commitment in making this site a designated park and within a timely fashion. As recent PAB meetings have taken place, the PAB's five year plan has shown no subsequent year funding following the completion of the master plan this summer. No funding, No commitment. No park – only a multi-year gap that all but ignores the progress made by completing the parks master plan. I have personally visited and used several of your other established parks in recent years ( Barton, Carver Boat Ramp), and was curious to when these sites were being created as parks, what level of support from the public and various agencies have in voicing their support? You have seen the list of over 30 agencies, businesses, well established conservation groups and your own CPO's and PAB that support this 44 acre site. I am curious if Barton Park, the Carver Boat Ramp, and your other established parks had this many endorsements as they began and were incorporated into the master plan. Again, our all-volunteer Madrone Wall Preservation Committee is committed and eager volunteers are ready to donate 1000 hours of service time to; build and improve trails, remove garbage and rubbish, and trim and remove invasive and noxious weeds during the first year that this site becomes and official park. The National Park Service estimates that for each hour a volunteer spends performing the above mentioned tasks, a "service value" rate of just over $18.00 per hour is what it cost take to pay a hired employee. You have heard loud and clear from the public, the City of Damascus, and many citizens of Clackamas County to move forward and make this site a park for thousands of people, and future generations to access for recreation, learning, and spiritual renewal. Please provide the leadership necessary to open this park in a timely fashion by authorizing capital improvement funding that immediately follows completion of the parks master plan. Sincerely, Kellie Rice Access Fund Regional Coordinator, Oregon President, Madrone Wall Preservation Committee Beaverton, Oregon Quote
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