Reaction to park project

Last week, Out There visited Hawthorne, where community activist Viviana Franco has spent much of her adult life trying to build a park on a small, barren lot. After the City Council declined to sign off on Franco’s request that City Hall commit to long-term maintenance of the park, her options narrowed considerably. Many readers were unhappy that Franco has been unable to gain traction. A sample of reader response:

“Green space matters. When you are surrounded by a concrete jungle, you can appreciate a small serene park where you can go and feel safe and enjoy a little nature at its best.”

-- Sandra Johnson

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“Hawthorne would probably get the park maintenance costs back in time through improved property values for the houses surrounding the park. Green space like the kind that could have been created from this lot is so badly needed.”

-- Hawthorne resident

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“Sad case of big business being better than the little people. . . . Don’t give up, Ms Franco.”

-- Kev, United Kingdom