By way of friends expressing concern and Caleb Vogel's letters, I’ve been informed of the decision to include a parking lot along Park Avenue to accompany the upcoming ice rink. In an attempt to supposedly further Winona Lake’s appeal, the town council and the Village at Winona are considering removing another of the few remaining green spaces that people enjoy.
On daily walks, I witness students reading, families relaxing and patrons sitting on the town's provided seating in this beautiful grove. The town council and the Village seem to be willing to fail their community members and patrons by robbing them of the timeless beauty that these landscapes impart on us. All in exchange for something ugly, empty and possibly unnecessary.
Nick Hauck, who is not only director of the Village but, as Vogel revealed, the sole bidder on the ice rink project, claims that “We’re always trying to tie everything back to the historical roots of our community” and that “The opportunity this pavilion brings to the community is limitless.” He talks incessantly of "community," but has our community asked for this, and in this location? Was the community consulted? What kind of community do we want to be? Spaces such as Tabernacle Field and the threatened grove of trees allowed for leisure of a dwindling kind. A space that can allow for pause, rest and views of our celebrated lake Winona.
Winona Lake’s official website shares “Board Goals.” The first goal is, “Continue to find ways to generate revenue.” The last goal is, “Promote environmental issues.” The developers of the ice rink and parking lot appear to have imbalanced these two undertakings. The natural environment is a primary reason for the public to visit and thus generate revenue for, Winona Lake. The proposed parking lot is, in this imbalanced way, antithetical to the goals stated by the town of Winona Lake.
A petition was established on the website www.change.org by the group “Friends of Winona Lake” to implore a public dialogue with Nick Hauck and Craig Allebach. The petition stated, “We ask the Village at Winona, WL Ice, LLC, the Town of Winona Lake, and other parties to at least make changes to the design that will minimize this disruption. These may include changes to the roof color to a more natural shade, architectural design elements, and proportions more in keeping with the historic character of the Tabernacle, landscaping designed to screen and enhance the building, and the minimization of parking lots and outbuildings.” The petition suspiciously is no longer but garnered 633 supporters during the few days it was active. The community is interested in reasonable communication surrounding these oncoming and proposed changes. We’re interested in alleviating the disharmony between the public and city planners.
People come to Winona Lake because it is beautiful, and then they spend money. The town council and the Village at Winona would rather people just come here to spend.
