Letter to the Editor:
What's important is only what citizens think is important. We must remember this principle when considering changes to our town and our park.
In her recent letter, Helen Harrison alerted us: The threat of losing the pines in Fort Zachary Taylor Park — of losing our park as we know it — is real — and imminent. Those who wish to preserve the park support the principle that bird and turtle habitats are truly important. We agree that we must protect against the intrusion of foreign plants and animals. Full agreement.
Full agreement on principle, however, does not mean "no exceptions." Australian pines, or casuarinas, at Fort Zachary [Taylor] also have a long history in the Caribbean. These trees are often cited as the landmark for sailors.
"A prominent stand of casuarinas trees marks the landfall," a typical quote from Street's "Cruising Guide to the Bahamas," circa 1950.
It is said that the pines at Fort Zachary currently serve as the landmark for birds migrating from South and Central America to Florida, and as a resting place and a source of food when their trip is delayed by weather.
Pines were growing within Fort Zachary half a century before they stabilized the park. Arguably, these trees constitute a "historic landscape" and as such, are an important feature not only of the park, but also of historic Fort Zachary.
Please understand: The importance of a feature on public land is not intrinsic to the feature itself. A structure, a statue or a landscape becomes important only to the extent that citizens view it as important. Mankind creates the importance.
So if the citizens of Key West feel that these pines and our park have value as a historic and cultural landscape that must be preserved, then let's face it: The pines and park must be preserved.
Evidence says: The public wants preservation of their park. However, action is needed now. Many trees have already been cut down, and more soon will be. Why? To make room to build a commercial operation of three pavilions to bring revenue to the park service. Our park will no longer exist as we know it today. Our tiny bit of nature [will be] sacrificed for government profit.
The Monroe County commissioners and the Key West city commissioners have passed resolutions reflecting strong public sentiment to save the pines. Nevertheless, the park service ignores this public outcry and proceeds with plans to remove the pines. ...
What can you do? Visit SaveOurPines.com. Join the fight to save our park.
Nils Muench
Key West
Published Key West Citizen, Letter to the Editor, 2/10/2007
