Park would be a bigger benefit

Editor,

I have feared for years that Polson would choose, for the sake of business, to separate their waterfront from their downtown, by allowing a superhighway to pass through on the current route. To me, this would be a tragedy.

Polson is the only city right on Flathead Lake.

We could plan our growth around this unique, natural, irreplaceable asset, designing a destination for people to enjoy with family and friends by the lake within walking distance of Polson's downtown.

A lakeside park on Salish Point, for example (not a parking lot — never!), would certainly increase traffic and profits for the business community, while offering locals and travelers public access open space with magnificent views, fresh air and water.

Let's look at options such as this, which make the most of the real geographic advantages of our locale, rather than consider an alleged draw such as a Wal-Mart Super Center, which will more likely soak up most of people's money before they ever get to downtown.

And why should tourists be drawn to Polson's Wal-Mart, when Wal-Marts just like it are everywhere?

A Super Center will not bring new money to our area, but take the local money and send it to Arkansas.

The same could be said of any national chain box store, which will likely follow the proposed Super Center into this new strip development on Highway 93, designed for our town by out-of-towners who have more interest in planning for our future than we seem to have.

Think about what you would like to see as you drive down Polson hill, and what is special to you about Polson.

You can submit comments on Polson's Growth Plan until Jan. 13. You can see a copy of the growth plan at the library, or city hall, or go online to www.hkminc.com

Carolyn Beecher

Ronan