February 29, 2012

Fill it with dirt? We’ve been down this road before.

This nosey newshound just got wind of some startling developments in regard to the old city reservoir overlooking the Cliff Drive Scenic ByWay in Kessler Park.

Seems there’s a movement afoot to contract with local construction giant JE Dunn to fill the massive old reservoir with dirt. Really? Some old school Northeasters may remember an unsuccessful Parks Department effort to do this back in the summer of 1998. It was unsuccessful, largely due to then-Northeast News Editor Norm Mason who penned a dandy front page piece in the Sept. 1, 1998, edition, rallying grass roots support against the in-fill project.   

Citing dust, increased truck traffic and the potential decimation of a historic piece of property, that article urged residents to flood city hall with telephone calls against the fill-in effort. The resulting opposition from neighborhoods thankfully stopped the project dead in its tracks.

Now that the issue has once again reared its ugly head, the time may be ripe to once again make your feelings known to city hall. This pooch isn’t a big fan of destruction of the historic fabric of the community, especially by those charged with its preservation. Even if it is in the name of progress.