The most valuable piece of undeveloped real estate space on the planet has to be Central Park. Located smack dab in the middle of Manhattan, can you just imagine the dollar signs ringing up in the eyes of the likes of Donald Trump if it ever was opened up to developers?
That will never happen, of course, because Central Park has proven much more valuable as an oasis in the concrete jungle that is New York City.
The small tract of land known as the Nelson Street Park is no Central Park, of course, but town council’s split decision Monday night to re-zone the property so it can be sold off and developed into five housing lots is the same principle.
In this case, given the tough financial times facing the town, the mayor and three councillors decided the land was much more valuable as a source of tax revenue.
Others argue, however, that you just can’t put a price tag on green space. And they’re right.
At a glance, it might seem that Fort Frances has plenty of green space residents can use and enjoy. But just how much of it actually is owned by the town—and, given what happened this time around, how much of it actually is safe from development down the road should a future council decide filling the municipal coffers is more important than having a place where kids can kick a soccer ball around?
It may be true the Nelson Street Park isn’t the most widely used in town, but who’s to say that won’t change five, 10, or 25 years from now? Not knowing what the future holds is precisely why green space needs to be protected from the short-term vision, need, or whim of a particular council.
Once it’s gone, it’s gone for good.
Just like the arena, theatre, and (hopefully) a new library, green space/parks is important to the well-being of residents—and yet another asset in the struggle to attract new families to Fort Frances.
They’re an investment in our future we simply cannot allow to be whittled away.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
