LETTERS: SAVE KLAUS PARK

To the editor:

Put a juvenile detention center at beautiful Klaus Park? Not in this 99 years you don't.

As a homeowner with a clear view of the park from my front door, I protest, and with a vengeance.

Of all the things in the world that could be put on this beautiful, serene place, this rates right up there with the very worst.

What a nightmare for the residents of Crystal Springs Estates and Westlake Meadows. This will change our lifestyles drastically for the worse. Most people who live out here moved here because it's one of the few places in the world where our children can be raised without fear. They can play in their yard or swim in their pool or ride their bike down the street and know that here is this little nook of the world where their neighbors are their extended family. We mind our own business, but we guard each other's children with a jealousy. Don't mess with these kids, or you might find yourself dealing with not just one set of parents, but 40 sets.

And kids we have -- many. All ages. All sizes. Several with disabilities. My youngest son has a terminal childhood illness. He cannot run or defend himself. He is 9 years old, and for the first time in his life he has the physical strength to ride a bicycle. Are the county commissioners going to take that away from him now? He rides up the street to visit his good friend, Blake, who is a special kid. Blake is a precious little sweetie who breathes through a trach and won't ride his bike if Philip's strength has given out, because he says that wouldn't be fair for him to ride next to Philip if he has to walk. We could learn a lot from these kids: common sense, fairness, sensitivity. Are you listening, commissioners?

Then there's Ashley. Ashley has Down's syndrome, but don't bother to tell her that. Ashley is the little princess of all of our hearts. Her parents have always strived, sparing no expense, for Ashley to have a normal life -- her normal life. Ashley is much smarter than most "normal" people. Her grandparents live out here too, and her little grandma takes her to and from the busy bus stop on the corner, here in clear view of the park. I guess that bus stop will no longer be. It certainly wouldn't be safe any more. Ashley was one of the very first people in the world to hug my child and treat him as if he was a normal, OK person. But her life would be normal no more, for we would all be forced to live in a cage.

Philip, Ashley, Blake and all the other decent people out here have made our home as safe a haven as possible, and we have every intention of keeping it that way. Don't tell us about these harmless juveniles who will be escaping through the masses of trees and heading our way in a flash. We didn't just ride in on the last load of pumpkins either. My juvenile last year was 6 feet, 8 inches tall. This is the year Missouri law was changed to deal more harshley with juveniles, because juvenile crimes have become more and more horrible. Just rape and murder. Stuff like that.

I have nothing against these troubled kids personally. But why should many of our children's safety be sacrificed? It's bad enough that decent, taxpaying people have been practically run out of Klaus Park by all the perverts who can't do their business at home. Now someone wants to make it worse. I'm sure none of the individuals making these decisions would dare want this placed near their homes, perish the thought.

Putting this type of facility at Klaus Park would be a huge injustice to the good, taxpaying citizens who have waited patiently for the authorities to clean up this park. We certainly don't deserve this kind of treatment. There are some things in life worth more than money or a few jobs, such as preserving a decent neighborhood that's trying to raise and nurture our children so they won't be juvenile delinquents. Don't decent neighborhoods county enough to be preserved and protected?

Why not put the regional library there? It would be the same distance from Cape Girardeau and Jackson, and much more fair to Cape Girardeau than the present location. It is a beautiful, quiet atmosphere for reading and learning, and a great place for a school field trip. I can picture schoolchildren collecting leaves from the many gorgeous trees and taking a nature walk. A place for good citizens to enjoy our tax dollars, our beautiful land, our beautiful park.

Forgive me, but I feel like we were sold out. I mean, a dollar for 99 years? This is not just some obscure piece of property that nobody wanted. This is a beautiful natural landmark, and if the commissioners knew that all these families lived out here, as they surely did, then shame on them.

There were over 50 breakouts at the Poplar Bluff Juvenile Detention Center last year. One every week, folks. Think about that. Think about Ashley, and Blake, and Philip. Think if it were your child.

We refuse to be sitting ducks for concentrated crime. Not now. Not ever. There is a right place for a facility such as this. It isn't Klaus Park.

SANDRA RESSEL

Cape Girardeau