| |
Saving Dicken Woods
Plan of Action |
How to Help | Letters | Other ’Saves’ in A2
The Friends of Dicken Woods are working to save this splendid natural
area by investigating how other similar undertakings have succeeded,
researching the history of Ann Arbor's other natural areas (see below),
undertaking extensive fundraising efforts, writing letters
to the Ann Arbor Planning Commission, the Ann Arbor News and other
organizations, rallying new Friends and raising awareness about the
threat to this special natural resource.
The Friends have presented at two sessions of the Ann Arbor Planning
Commission to halt the proposed Crosswinds destruction of Dicken Woods.
After Crosswinds finally backed out of their purchase agreement, the
Friends met with the current property owner, the Catholic Diocese of
Lansing, and were told two other developers are interested in the
property; the Diocese, however, allowed the Friends to submit a viable
plan of action to preserve Dicken Woods. At that point, mid-May 2003,
the Friends kicked into a higher gear, meeting with City Council
representatives, members of the City Park Advisory Commission, members
of the City staff, and State Representative Chris Kolb. The Friends
also began rallying support from the local environmental and educational
communities, receiving rousing letters of support from the Huron River
Watershed Council, the Allen's Creek Watershed Group, the Sierra Club -
Huron Valley Group, Dr. George Fornero, Superintendent of the Ann Arbor
Public Schools, Kathy Scarnecchia, Principal of Dicken Elementary
School, and State Representative Chris Kolb. The Friends also presented
at numerous meetings of the Ann Arbor Park Advisory Commission as well
as a City Council caucus session in early June 2003.
By the June 27, 2003 deadline, the Friends submitted to the Diocese a 33-page Plan of Action to Preserve Dicken Woods.
For more information on how you can help save Dicken Woods, see the 'How to Help' page.
|
