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Meeting on golf course work raises questions
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To the Times-Picayune - September 9th, 2001
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The public meeting Tuesday night called by the group Save Audubon Park revealed several striking
aspects of the current conflict regarding the Audubon Institute's plans.
First, the institute's
assertion that its plan does not reduce public access to the interior of the park relies upon their
interpretation of the Hurst Walk as always having been considered "part of the golf course."
The non-golfing public, which has enjoyed this avenue across the park for many years, might beg
to differ.
Second, the institute presents this project as essential for public safety.
This begs the question of what alternate plans might have accomplished this goal without
disproportionately impacting the non-golfing public.
And finally, institute officials
expressed great frustration with the flood of criticism arising at such a late hour in the
planning process. Did all of these concerned people simply sleep through their opportunities
for public comment?
The city and state long ago decided as a matter of public policy to
turn over our major public open spaces to quasi-public management. This strategy has in many
ways proved successful.
The current unhappiness over the Audubon Institute's makeover
of Audubon Park, however, raises the question of who is protecting the public interest when
these agencies engage in strategic planning that is largely shielded from public participation
and scrutiny.
Daniel R. Samuels
New Orleans
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