LETTERS: WEEDS GROW HIGH ALONG NEW TRAIL

To the editor:

I read with interest an extensive article in the Southeast Missourian regarding the completion of the Walker Creek walking trail project. I know it's been a long time coming. However, at the time I was reading the article I was looking out the back window of my mother's house, which backs onto the Walker Creek project. The view consisted of 3-foot-tall weeds, rocks that would ruin any lawn mower and piles of dirt and gravel that have been there since last year.

If the project managers have advised you the job is done, they are sorely incorrect. The property taken over by the city, at least from Marietta to Lombardo, is not manageable, not by the city, not by the affected homeowners. I called my mother June 28, and she advised me that nothing had been done since my visit on Memorial Day.

In case you think I'm exaggerating about the weeds, enclosed please find a picture taken Memorial Day weekend. Leaning against the telephone pole is a yardstick. As you can see, it is dwarfed by the weeds, and they've had another month of growing since then.

If this were private property, the city would be all over the owner to clean it up, as it violates city code. The weeds provide a good snake den 50 feet closer to the homes than the old creek bed.

I realize that spring weather was a challenge, but the year is half over now. And weather can't be a valid excuse for this long. This project needs to be completed, and city codes need to be honored on city property.

The way I see this project, it was a drainage project augmented by a recreational trail. It appears that when the work was done, the recreation part was put ahead of the true purpose of the project: providing clear drainage channels throughout the Walker Creek drainage project.

Although I do not live in Cape Girardeau at this time, I grew up there and still have relatives in town. I do care about the future of the city. Otherwise, I wouldn't take the trouble to bring this to your attention. Let's finish the job 100 percent before congratulating ourselves.

WILLIAM R. CROW

Flower Mound, Texas