A Case For Space -- Dracut Information Resource Forum

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Date Posted: 11:30:50 03/16/01 Fri
Author: Naturally
Subject: A Case For Space

I am Naturally inclined to a reflexive and immediate disdain for any government initiative that seek to relieve me of my money. As such is the case, upon hearing about the Open Space Proposal, my first impulse was to regard it with suspicion and skepticism. I've heard all the arguments and how could you not. Warren Shaw is beginning to remind me a little of Rainman these days. Ask him anything and he somehow finds a way to tie it to Open Space.

As far as they go, the arguments for this proposal appear sturdy enough. We don't want additional sprawl, burdensome service demands, or to deflower the virgin land with the Bulldozer's blade. All of this makes sense. We've got ours and we'd like to keep it that way. This works for me, no sense in being coy about it.

While mulling this, I came up with my own reason for wishing to preserve the open spaces throughout the town. I approach this issue from a child and human development perspective. I think it has even father reaching implications when considered in this light.

As a young boy growing up in the Collinsville section of town, it was the abundance of open space in my neighborhood that provided me and my friends with a boundless laboratory in which to explore the world around us. The added bonus to these secluded areas is that they were safe from the scrutiny of the meddlesome and prying eyes of our parents.

If you had four trees that formed a square, a rock to use as a hammer, and some wood & nails "borrowed" from a neighbor, you could build yourself a fort. It may have moved and shifted when the wind blew but eventually we learned the benefits of a free-standing structure. Within the confines of our fort, young boys gathered to discuss varying taboo subjects. From the guy who always stiffed us on our paper route, to the neighborhood lady who enjoyed sunning herself in her yard without the oppressive conformity of clothing. These and other vital matters were discussed and the foundation of critical thinking and analysis were honed and refined.

But my argument doesn't rely solely on the salacious whispering of infatuated boys. Scientific discoveries also took place. The properties of fire was a favorite subject amongst me and my buddies. There were also model rockets with grasshoppers berthed in the payload section (effects of gravity) But, reigning supreme was the rite of passage for every male under 12 on my block. The study and convergence of biology and physics as demonstrated by a frog and an M-80.

Social theory and structure was also tested in the open spaces of our world. We didn't need or want our parents to referee our games and disagreements. We established our own social code and enforced it among ourselves. The annoying kid who ran his mouth too much risked being hoisted to a low tree branch and left there by his belt loop. Nothing more violent than that. On the other side of the coin, my fist non-platonic kiss took place in romantic splendor in Cannie's Field that runs behind some of the houses on Bouchard Ave. Sadly, that bit of exploration ended there with no further research for years to come.

I'm sure this will iritate many in the sensitive crowd. "Oh my God!! Bullying, lighting fires, Cruelty to animals!" I guess I can understand their concern. But these are the things that boys do. We all engaged in these pursuits and were sometimes caught and appropriately punished. Our parents didn't have the opportunity to blunt our natural curiosity and excessive energy with today's modern remedies. That's not to say if Ritalin were available my Parents wouldn't have been running down to Plunketts for a barrel of the stuff.

Open space was our stimulant. Our yards, the woods, abandoned fields, this is where we grew, learned and played. I'm not suggesting that open space will be a panacea for all the problems we face as a community. I realize we have some real difficulties with some of our kids. But, I don't yet see the level of violence that seems so ever-present in other communities. Perhps that has something to do with Dracut maintaining a semi-rural identity.

Government, at its best aids in the preservation of a heightened quality of life. Unfortunately, that intent is almost always betrayed by political agendas, petty infighting, and power struggles. With vigilant oversight and periodic citizen review, the Open Space Proposal has the potential to be an example of Government at its best. We're going to pay either way, it's simply a matter of how we wish to spend the money.

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Replies:

Re: A Case For Space -- Warren, 19:09:54 03/19/01 Mon
- Re: A Case For Space -- ALAn Thivierge, 19:05:27 03/23/01 Fri
  - Re: A Case For Space -- warren, 11:04:43 03/24/01 Sat
Re: A Case For Space -- warren, 21:16:30 03/22/01 Thu