To the editor:

I strongly oppose the DeSpains’ plans to intrude on and permanently alter the natural setting of the wooded area east of Lynwood Center. While they may have had hundreds of thousands of acres to work with in Alaska, the impact on our little island’s flora and fauna would be profound.

Islanders have always worked to promote the least invasive, most passive use of the land we live on in keeping with the Native American value that we are part of the natural environment, not dominant over it.

Ten aerial platforms, four suspension bridges, two elevated platforms and five zip line cables — not to mention the equipment needed to construct all of this apparatus — are certainly not environmentally friendly.

Their proposal “we’ll work with nonprofits and schools” makes me think they already know their project is offensive and they are prepared to respond with this disingenuous mitigation proposal.

Please hold public hearings and require an environmental impact study. This is a project with very serious long-term, potentially devastating, consequences.

JUDY HARTSTONE

Bainbridge Island