Letter to the Editor: Please don't sell city property to the Decorah School District

The following letter has been sent to City of Decorah officials by Shirley Vermace of Decorah:

To Mayor Arendt and the Decorah City Council:

I am writing to you as a citizen of Decorah, a parent of kids who grew up here, a long-time resident who spent my childhood here and also as a Park & Recreation Board member. These are my own opinions--and not those of the others on the Decorah Park and Recreation Board.

Pleases DO NOT sell the City land near the softball diamond/recycling bin area to the Decorah Schools. Here are the three main reasons why I am against it:

1)  That land and location are PRIME future areas for a needed center of town DECORAH CITY PARK, where you can hold Farmer's Markets, Arts Fairs and the start and finish lines of major running/walking/biking events. All of these types of activities have the potential to draw hundreds of visitors to downtown Decorah, therefore, the potential for visitors to spend their money in our downtown restaurants and retail shops! Wouldn't it be great if all of YOU were the ones who had the vision to SAVE THAT LAND FOR A BEAUTIFUL CITY PARK right next to the downtown shopping/dining district! Complete with restructured sidewalks/parking to create a better connection between the two someday! And beautiful planted trees, outdoor theater performance space, etc, etc. Wouldn't happen immediately, but something to dream about for the future Decorah image!

2) I do not think the new elementary school, if a new one is needed, needs to be built right next to the traffic and congestion of the high school again. That has been a dangerous traffic area all these years--why continue that? Relocate the new school to nice quiet area of Decorah, AWAY from downtown and the high school traffic. I'm sure there are other options, especially with North Winn school possibly available--that school has wonderful space!

3) The last thing we need is a big, square, flat-roofed building blocking the view of our beautiful bluffs from the downtown area. Preserve the beauty of downtown Decorah - tourism is one of our biggest assets, and due in a large part to the beautiful look of our downtown.

Please do NOT let go of that valuable land and location for Decorah's future economic development sake!