To the editor:
I would like to voice my feelings about Segment 9 of the Sleeping Bear Dunes Heritage Trail. I have had the privilege of living in Leelanau County for over 20 years and my husband and I have enjoyed the trails and initially we were looking forward to the expansion but this particular segment at this particular time in environmental history is wrong. I have also had to deal with loyalties to people I care about as I have worked through this. I think it is important to put our personal feelings aside and look at the big picture. We have a global water crisis and a climate crisis which makes us realize the importance of using our natural resources wisely and forgo unnecessary development. Our growing knowledge about the value of trees, wetlands, critical dunes, and the protection of wildlife and wild places precludes this expansion. The talking point that the park uses is no longer relevant.
Maybe you have heard of Rights of Nature—CELDF— Championing Nature and Communities. It’s time to turn away from what we as humans feel we are entitled to and put “the rights of nature “ first keeping in mind the long-term benefi ts to all of us.
Susan Wheadon Cedar
