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To the Editor:

The new Blackwater Park in Franklin is very nice. It is a showcase for the wonderful diversity of the cypress tupelo swamps that are prevalent in our area. I am very happy people that are not able go on our rivers now have the opportunity to see these wonderful swamp habitats and experience the majestic cypress trees this park endorses. So, imagine my disappointment upon visiting the park for the first time and seeing this monstrosity I can only call Woodhinge near the entranceway of the park. Why on earth would someone kill two or three 150 to 200-year-old cypress trees to build a USELESS archway into a park that is showcasing cypress swamp conservation? If they wanted to keep vehicles from driving down that path there are certainly better options than killing such magnificent trees. That’s about the dumbest thing I have ever seen in my 23 years of being the ombudsperson for the Blackwater and Nottoway Rivers. What kind of mixed up environmental/conservation message does that send to the visiting public of this park?

Jeff Turner

Blackwater Nottoway RiverGuard