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Letters to the EditorWednesday, November 22, 2006 1:17 AM CST
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Old prairie fence replaced in 2002
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As an Audubon Society volunteer who helped mow the paths at the Stevenson School prairie from 1982 until 2002, I wish to provide facts regarding the condition of the fence that enclosed the prairie.

Deanna Francisco (YourViews, Nov. 8) called it ``rotting,'' and the district superintendent speaks of a deteriorated fence that posed a serious safety threat.

In 2002, the Bloomington Parks Department installed an entirely new fence around the prairie. It replaced the original split rail fence that had surrounded the prairie since its dedication and was requiring increasing maintenance.

The fence was part of a new design for the prairie site created by the landscape architect who, in 1981, had designed the entire outdoor learning area at the school.

The new fence was made of heavy gauge welded galvanized wire, was 4 feet high and was placed in the ground fastened to round pressure-treated posts.

To facilitate the Parks Department taking over the job of mowing, it was designed with an extra wide gate along the west side and a smaller pedestrian gate at the south side. Both gates had latches that could be locked, if needed, for security purposes.

The prairie was a minimum of 8 feet from this fence and no one need contact the fence to enjoy visiting.

What parts of it had deteriorated or rotted in four years? If problems were identified that made the fence a safety threat, why wasn't the Parks Department or district maintenance staff requested to make repairs?

It appears recent descriptions of the fence come from old reports about the aging split rail fence rather that the fence installed in 2002.

Audubon always has been concerned about the safety, maintenance and continued use of the prairie. The new design and sturdier fence supported these concerns.

Charles Hollowell

Bloomington

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Reader comments on this story - 3 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

GEEEEZ wrote on Nov 23, 2006 9:05 AM:

" Why couldn't they have used cedar for the fence? It would still be there in 400 years. "

Deanna wrote on Nov 22, 2006 3:55 PM:

" The Audubon Society has a beautiful sign crediting them with the garden along constituion trail. If they want to take credit for the "beautiful" prairie at Stevenson then why was there no sign posted saying what it was, when it was dedicated, who took care of it, etc....As for the "new"fence. The extra wide gate didn't close. It stood open all of the time because there was no working latch. If the prairie was being taken care of, certainly someone would have noticed this. Do you really think even a locked 4 foot fence would keep anyone out who wanted to get in? For all of you who believe the prairie was in great condition take this into consideration. When my fourth grader saw the prairie picture in the original Pantagraph article taken in 1995, she asked where that place was. She had no idea she stood next to this area everyday at recess. Why is it that there are no current picures of the prairie? "

poor kids wrote on Nov 22, 2006 2:43 PM:

" A thought occured to me , and that is , "something rather nice , peaceful and pleasant (the prairie) was exchanged for terror , fear and apprehesion (the principles "theory") . poor kids . "
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