LETTERS: NO NEED FOR NEW PARK

To the editor:

Cape Girardeau Councilman Tom Neumeyer's claim that "everyone wins" in the proposed purchase of the Old St. Vincent's Seminary property is clearly mistaken. The people are the losers. Under the proposal, the city would acquire 16 acres of valuable property, removing it from the tax rolls, thus making it a liability rather than an asset. In addition, the city is reaching into the people's pockets and, with the use of federal funds, the nation's pockets to provide another park which will not be needed and will likely not be used.

There are two parks located within two blocks of the seminary property, Historic Fort D and Ranney Park, both of wich are little used. Fort D, with its building boarde up and the park surrounded by an overgrowth of shrubbery, should be an embarrassment to the city's park board. One has to ask why the city feels the need for another park in that area when so little attention has been paid to the ones already esixting.

The reality of the deal is that the city has found a back-door solution to the Colonial Cape Foundation's financial dilemma. The Colonial Cape Foundation purchased a building it cannot afford and has been anxiously seeking other people's money to complete the purchase. With this proposal, the foundation appears to have found the means to make everyone pay the price.

SHAPLEY R. HUNTER

Tamms, Ill.

EDITOR'S NOTE: The seminary property isn't on the tax rolls because it has been owned by a religious organization.