The Editor,
Not long ago Railway Avenue was bordered on the West Side by a beautiful green strip with a lot of trees and blackberry bushes. It was also the home of many small animals and lots of birds and their nests. At this time of year the blackberry bushes would be in full bloom loaded with white blossoms and later in the Fall would be loaded with fruit which many local residents picked and enjoyed.
The trees followed the seasons, being harbingers of spring, when the leaves began to appear, and reminders that another year was almost complete in the fall.
The great minds in City Hall thought they could improve on nature. The blackberries were ripped up, many trees were cut down leaving great gaps in the greenery, the small animals were rooted out of their homes and the birds flew elsewhere. Now they're laying down, what no doubt will become a cyclists drag strip. Look out you mothers and care givers pushing strollers or walking with kids, people in wheelchairs and those just enjoying an evening stroll, you'll need eyes in the back of your head. Accidents will happen just as surely as they do on the Seawall. And now we can all look forward to another smiling council photo-op.
Patrick Gannon
Richmond,
