I just want to point out a few things and respectfully ask for some clarifications to comments that Barry Adams has made [Voices, Feb. 8].
First off, Mr. Adams, I don't know what your definition of a forest is. You are either talking about the few trees on the Crowell lot property, or you're talking about the steep hill with a few dozen trees shading the trash and condoms left by the junkies who hang out in that spot.
Either way, the “forest” should remain fully intact, with the slight possibility of one or two trees receiving harmful effects from their being old trees.
I find your “hill” argument a little comical. Living in the Brattleboro area, I've come to accept that if I want to walk anywhere, at some point I will have to go up a hill.
As far as parking goes, there is a shortage of parking everywhere.
Also, there are laws in place banning skateboarding on that street; building a skatepark there won't change that.
And furthermore, if you're so worried about kids riding skateboards down that hill, why don't you try to start a campaign against bicycles and other non-motorized, wheeled devices that are used around town?
Also, your saying that kids will start going down Union Hill on skateboards demonstrates how out of touch you are with the general common sense that skateboarders possess.
I also want to verify that I was personally banned from the Save Our Park Coalition Facebook page, as were easily a dozen or so friends. Whether you, Mr. Adams, personally did that doesn't matter much. SOPC is a group that speaks and acts collectively, and I have seen very intelligent, pro-skatepark posts that are backed up by facts erased in a matter of minutes.
When BASIC supporters said that you waited until the eleventh hour to appeal the town's approval, that was in response to your waiting over two years to join in the discussion and your choosing a brilliantly good time to throw a stick in the spoke.
Finally, what are you willing to compromise on with the mediation? What has to happen for you to be okay with the skatepark being at the Crowell Lot? If in your opinion the Crowell Lot is totally unacceptable, then what is the point of your going to a mediation table?