Letter to the Editor: Land For Park Should Be Purchased

Fayetteville has an incredible opportunity to expand one of its most used and appreciated public areas, Gulley Park, by acquiring the adjacent 11-acre Dunn property.

For many years, Margo and I have enjoyed Gulley Park as so many others have. We see walkers (as we usually are), runners, mothers, strollers, kids, nature lovers, dog lovers, volleyballers, concertgoers, star gazers, volunteers and others. Gulley is one of the most-used parks in Fayetteville, and for good reason.

Niokaska Creek flowing through the park and along the Dunn property adjacent to the park is an absolute gem -- "a pearl of great price." The stream restoration work done there with large rocks creating a series of pools and waterfalls is amazing, and we've noticed the kids think so, too.

This is a special place for all of Fayetteville to enjoy. Alison Jumper with the Parks Department has described Gulley Park and the adjacent Dunn property as a peaceful and pastoral place with open fields, ponds, woods and the adjacent Niokaska Creek. It's a place people just like to be in and enjoy, and the numbers attest to that fact. Also, an obvious benefit for the city is that facilities like bathrooms and parking lots in Gulley Park are already there to service the Dunn property. This is a great cost savings.

So, now Fayetteville has a special opportunity (and a choice) to make Gulley Park an even better, more used and appreciated park for Fayetteville residents.

What should we do? We need to acquire the adjacent Dunn property. We can enjoy it and benefit from it now but the enduring benefit will be for all the future generations of Fayetteville. What a gift to leave! This opportunity won't happen again. It's now or never!

There is money in the Gulley Park restoration fund the Parks Department has and certainly there is money in the city's reserve fund, and these are renewable resources. The Dunn land is not: Once it is sold for development, it will be gone, never to come back.

Let's make the right decision for Fayetteville and purchase the Dunn property.

Pete Heinzelmann

Fayetteville