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Stop killing green growth on bike path

Editor, Index-Tribune:

 

I was pleased to see the Index-Tribune article about use of Roundup along the bike paths and the dreadful effect that it has on the beauty and inspiration in those areas. However, I was disappointed to learn that the city will do nothing to stop Roundup use.

Several years ago, I wrote to the city about how use of Roundup (or similar herbicides) had killed the wildflowers and green growth along the bike path. I received a letter saying that Roundup was not used and that bike path maintenance was the responsibility of the contracted company (Scandia).  I gave up.

On March 10, I went to the bike path near Fourth Street East to visit a bench in memory of my mother. Again, the areas on both sides of the path and around the benches were devastated, brown and ugly. These are areas which are usually bright green with early wildflowers and the promise of poppies. After the only rain in February, I had scattered seeds of poppy and nasturtium. I hope the seeds waited till danger was gone – likely not.

Many of us, with Howard Costello as our inspiration, have worked to create beauty along the bike path. I ask that the city help in this effort and become a protector of wildflowers and green-bordered pathways by ceasing use of poisons.

Please stop killing wild flowers and green growth along the bike path.

Anne Golseth

Sonoma