Willard Beach is the same same as dog park

To the editor:

I’d like to respond to a recent letter to the editor titled, “Where is our dog park?” (May 21, 2010).

We, in South Portland, already have the “Cadillac of dog parks.” I call it Willard Beach.  

I’ve been on that beach when my children were toddlers. There was a problem when dogs trampled or soiled the sand castle we worked on for hours, but I’m also a dog owner and my dog loves romping through the waves and sand with other dogs.  

We’ve had a prolonged debate about dogs on the beach and reached a compromise addressing the needs of all concerned. The dog owners, with very few exceptions, have complied with the new rules and even sponsored beach cleanups.

It must be difficult to be a long time resident who’s enjoyed the beach in a certain way to yield to new uses afforded to new residents.  

Resistance to change is greater when one suffers from other life afflictions. My dog, a beach user for the past 10 years who now suffers from a debilitating terminal disease, has also had to accept some change. The point is that long-term residents and abutters of public property have no greater rights to the use and enjoyment of that property than the rest of us.  

I hope all dog owners and non-dog owners will recognize the right to public recreational property also carries a responsibility to share that resource.

David Rooker

South Portland

What do you want your city to look like?

To the editor:

The South Portland Comprehensive Plan Committee will hold an open public forum so you can tell us your opinions and what you want South Portland’s future to look like. 

It will be 5:30 to 9 p.m., June 17 at Southern Maine Community College campus, Fort Road, the Culinary Arts Center, South Portland.

We will provide snacks and record your opinions for the committee to begin writing South Portland’s map, its Comprehensive Plan.

What do we want our community to look like in five or 10 years? We need to capture your thoughts and needs into the next Comprehensive Plan.

What is a Comprehensive Plan? First it is a state mandate that communities develop a Comprehensive Plan, the vision with actions attached to guide staff and those who wish to live or own or change businesses here. 

Our last plan was finished in 1992. You can read it by going to the South Portland website, www.Southportland.org, and clicking on the Comprehensive Plan link. 

The plan will help the city decide zoning and transportation issues. In many ways it is much like a map that guides you to a desired destination, but first you need to decide where you want to go or a map is useless. That’s where the Comprehensive Plan committee is now. 

It is a cross-section of your neighbors, staff and friends who have volunteered to do the actual writing of a 10-year plan to move South Portland forward. We need you to tell us what you do and don’t like about living here. Then we would like you to think out of the box and tell us what your vision for South Portland is 10 years from now. 

Do you want the city to keep its distinct neighborhood feel? Should we encourage more retail business? Should we purchase more open space or maybe just take better care of what we own? While thinking out those answers we must consider that we are pretty built out, so how do you feel about redevelopment? You have valuable information this committee needs.

For more information, call Planning Director Tex Haeuser at 767-7603 or Chairman Maxine Beecher at 799-8888 or e-mail chaeuser@southportland.org. 

Maxine Beecher

City councilor and chairman, South Portland Comprehensive Plan Committee