Letters to the Editor (May 30)
Preserve our past
We recently took an excellent Arkansas River history stroll with Jim Mason of the City Parks Dept. and offer the following observations.
Wichita has a colorful history dating from the 1860s. Recent calls to tear down Lawrence-Dumont Stadium and Century II are examples of short-sightedness. To city “leaders,” new seems better than old, chic better than historical, etc.
Consider the case of Lawrence-Dumont Stadium dating back to 1935. The list of names like Satchel Paige, Pete Rose, Tom Seaver, Barry Bonds, and dozens of other Hall of Famers is reason enough to preserve the historical ballpark without bulldozing it. The Wichita Wingnuts have found a niche by providing low-cost family entertainment that will be lost by replacing it with a AA MLB affiliate, over priced tickets and concessions that will ultimately fail to maintain a local fan-base. The Wranglers are the most recent example.
Century II was designed by students of Frank Lloyd Wright and has become an iconic symbol for the city that needs updating rather than demolition.
Our tour through Delano demonstrated that people are more interested in structures with history and character than “new stuff.”
Steve and Brenda Woodman, Wichita
Speak up for wildlife
I am writing to inform you of a grass roots movement to help the Environment and Wildlife. Fear and lack of awareness of the situation has stripped away environmental protections and recent laws have put our wildlife in jeopardy.
We need to stand up and give a voice to the animals, the birds, the trees, and wildlife. We have been led to believe that we have to make a choice between the environment, wildlife, jobs and progress. This isn’t true. We can live side by side as we have for centuries and give them a place to thrive.
Please, let the children be heard. Send pictures and letters to our leaders to say we care about the animals and the public lands and will let our votes defend them. Wolves and others are a keystone species that effect every area of the environment in which they reside. Please help to defend these defenseless creatures from the ravages of loss of habitat as well as outright war against them. This is important so that wolves, bears, wild horses and other endangered species don't go extinct forever on our watch, but instead are allowed to flourish and prosper for our grand children and Great Grand children.
This is my dream.
Gail Martin, Wichita
Letters to the Editor
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This story was originally published May 30, 2017 at 5:03 AM with the headline "Letters to the Editor (May 30)."