Residents React to Zip-Line Course at Creve Coeur Park
Readers and social media followers react to the new treetop adventure park that is planned for Creve Coeur Park.
Love it or hate it, a treetop adventure course is on its way to Creve Coeur Park in Maryland Heights.
The St. Louis County Council approved the controversial zip-line-based course Tuesday night.
Many St. Louis-area residents were unhappy about the project and more than a dozen made a last-ditch attempt to stop the project by organizing opposition during Tuesday's council meeting.
The park will open in May and be built by a company called Go Ape!, a Maryland-based company that has created similar parks inIndiana, Virginia and Maryland.
Most of the opponents, Fox 2 News reports, were Audubon Society members, who had concerns were about wildlife, especially birds that will be sharing the tree tops with zip liners.
Just one spoke in favor of the park.
Council Chairwoman Kathleen Burkett, D-Overland, told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch after the meeting the lone favorable voice was the rule rather than the exception.
“I’ve heard from quite a few supporters through email and phone calls,” Burkett told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “They are just not as publicly vocal about (the issue) as the opponents.”
Readers of Maryland Heights Patch—and fans of theirs on Facebook—also weighed in on the matter.
Jason Patrylo, a Maryland Heights Patch Facebook fan, said, "Traffic will suck, but good for the businesses around there."
"I think it will be fun. I think it will bring revenue for the parks that are in need of some updates/maintence, also it will connect kids to the parks," added Martina Sandheinrich. "Most zip lines aren't that intrusive so I think it will be a good addition. Just as long as they keep it tasteful."
Some even went as far as saying the zip-lined park would help Creve Coeur Park.
"As odd as it sounds, the best thing you can do for habitat enrishment is to expose more people to it," said Justin Banner. "The more that people are exposed to natural habitats, the more they will care about protecting them. This will take people who might otherwise be uninterested in looking at nature face to face with it."
What do you think about the treetop course? Love it or hate it?
dennis
11:17 am on Thursday, February 21, 2013
I live a mile away. I can't wait walk to the park and have fun. $55.00 a pop won't be doing it often. Give residents a discount. I will wait for a group on. It will be great for Maryland Heights!!
Sheila
12:10 pm on Thursday, February 21, 2013
My husband and I moved to Maryland Heights 14 months ago. Our backyard backs to the park, that's why we bought here. We love wildlife, the deer in the yard and the at this time the eagles. We see the turkey occationally and even coyotes. I'm not sure how the zip line will affect all the wildlife but in some way it would have to. That saddens me. Sheila
Michele T.
4:19 pm on Thursday, February 21, 2013
I think it is stupid and is a passing fade just like bungee jumping. As soon as the fad wears off, it will go out of business. Just ruins the park.
Brian Feldt
4:24 pm on Thursday, February 21, 2013
I can see both sides on this. I'm sure I'll have a blast after shelling out $55 or so to complete the course. That said, I'd hate to see the natural habitat disrupted. And Creve Coeur Park is such a beautiful park as is. It'll be interesting to see how much money actually goes back into the park. Go Ape! says a portion of every ticket goes back to the park department.