VERMILION PARK

In these tough times, it's not an essential

The Star Tribune editorial "Don't abandon plan for Vermilion park" (April 19) strikes at the heart of the dilemma facing our nation today: the inability to determine a want from a need.

We are experiencing record deficits in all levels of government. The Vermilion park plan would take 2,500 acres of additional land off the tax rolls, eliminate future use of this land for all but limited recreation, increase government bureaucracy to maintain the proposed park in perpetuity and, by the way, pay more than the assessed value of the land!

This is where we collectively slap our foreheads. Even the $14 million assessed value of the land to be purchased would go a long way to providing for health care needs of disabled and impoverished children and adults. It would pay for about 291 teachers to help Minnesota schools meet their goal of providing world-class education to every child. It could provide $14 million in restored, perhaps even increased, Local Government Aid to cities that provide basic safety, infrastructure maintenance and repair, and sanitation services to local residents without increasing their property taxes.

We have to ask: Is this a pressing need in challenging times, or simply a desire?

CANDACE OATHOUT, CRYSTAL