Archive: Opinions

I was just walking through Ludlowville Park and I was slapped in the face by the vision of bare rocks encircling the gazebo. Where have all the flowers gone? The Ludlowville neighborhood association chipped in their time, effort, as well as plants from individuals’ gardens to beautify the park. I personally donated the boxwood plant that graced the right side of the gazebo entrance shortly after I moved to Ludlowville in 1997 from my garden at 181 Ludlowville Rd. It replaced one that a vandal had stolen and was my gift to the park and the people of Ludlowville. I would love to have a boxwood plant of that size now in my garden at The Federal House but I’m sure I would have to spend at least $400 to have a specimen that splendid. Where is that plant now? Other plants were donated by Take Your Pick Flowers, and neighbors all along Ludlowville, Maple, Mill, and Salmon Creek Roads.

Neighbors brought wheelbarrows of plants and buckets of water at the planting, and watered those plants for weeks until they were established. The beds were nicely weeded, the hostas were thriving, the flowers were blooming, and the flowerbed provided beauty for the people who frequent the park. It was well mulched and presented no maintenance problems for the mowing crew. Young members of the community learned about volunteerism as everyone pitched in, not only to improve the park but to maintain what was started. And now all that beauty, all that expense of time, effort and community service has been stripped away. This is a park. Aren’t gardens of flowers more suited to a park than a circle of barren rocks?


“I can’t understand why anyone would do that,” said Wanda Brink, “why would they take out the plants? It’s terrible!” I share Wanda’s shock and concern and would like to know who was responsible for that decision. There was absolutely no communication with the people of Ludlowville that I am aware of.

If vandals had stolen our plants in the middle of the night and been caught by the police, they would be charged with theft and have to do community service. I am writing to find out who made this decision, who knew of it, who made the directive and why, what was the reasoning behind such a decision, why was there no communication with interested parties beforehand, and where are the stripped plants now?

Stephanie Levy
The Federal House
Lansing, NY 14882

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