PUBLIC OPINION

To the Editor:

On May 27, the YMCA conducted a tour of Camp Mahackeno for members of Y Downtown, local residents and elected officials, including a number of RTM members and selectmen Carl Leaman and John Izzo. The tour was arranged in response to our request to view the facility to better understand the Y's plans for its proposed complex.

While it was helpful to see Camp Mahackeno's topography, we were disappointed that the tour did not reveal anything about the Y's relocation plans. The tour did, however, underscore the natural beauty of this rare bit of open space. It also convinced us, more than ever, that Camp Mahackeno, located in a rural, residential part of town, is the wrong location for a 94,000 square foot facility.

During the tour, we were impressed by the stunning parcel of undeveloped land on which the camp is sited. The land is largely wooded, with many steep hills and grades leading down to serene waterscapes. The grounds are traversed by a stream worthy of Ansel Adams photos, which culminates in an area of dense wetlands before draining into the Saugatuck River, site of the camp's waterfront activities. We also learned that the river, grasses and shady glens are home to many species of wildlife, among them owls, egrets and a turtle who has been returning to the same field every Memorial Day weekend for 50 years to lay her eggs.

Another revelation was that despite the parcel's 30-acre size, there are very few buildable areas. The largest flat section appears to be near the Rice's Lane entrance, where the tennis courts, swimming pool and volleyball courts currently are sited. There is a second potentially buildable site in the valley behind the camp office, where some lodge-like buildings currently stand. The ground in that area, though, is wet and spongy, as the river cuts through that section of the property.

After walking through this tranquil setting, we were more incredulous than ever that the YMCA is considering placing a Wal-Mart sized building and parking lot on this site. It would be a crime to pave over this pristine open space, which provides so much joy to so many children, and is home to such diverse wildlife.

Debbie McGinley, Westport