History repeats itself at city hall | Letter to the editor

Published 6:30 am Tuesday, September 19, 2017

To the editor:

Reading recent “Donors should be wary of city” letter suggests that one look no further that the sad saga of the John Nelson property.

He donated plus or minus 5 acres to the city for the express purpose of a city park “for the enjoyment of the people” on the condition of strict adherence to his intent by the city of Winslow.

The sitting city council agreed to the conditions as stipulated. A few years later they sold the property located on the east side of Highway 305 between High School Road and Winslow Way for a tidy sum.

Some years passed before the city counsel decided to “develop” the Strawberry Plant property and rename it John Nelson Park. The “development” consisted of essentially destroying any access to the whole property and replanting it with native vegetation. A far cry from the vision John Nelson had for his park as related by his nephew.

FRED M. MCGINNIS

Bainbridge Island