Oatka Creek Park - A gem within Monroe County

Where do I begin? I guess I'll begin by saying I don't know all the details regarding this project but what I do know is unsettling.

But first a description of Oatka Park for those who be unaware of it.

It's a quiet, tranquil place that the residents of Wheatland know and love and keep quiet about so as to not to let out the secret. Those of us who already live out in the sticks enjoy the peace and quiet that comes with it. That's why we know this park is a special place.

Each night and every weekend we are able to escape Rochester to our backyards and private lands. Others who don't have that, have Oatka park. A quiet, safe and peaceful place to take a walk, a jog, or to walk your dog in the woods. It also has some of the greatest fishing spots in Western NY. While enjoying the park the silence will only broken by birds, an occasional barking dog, deer breaking from a hedgerow, animals rustling in the brush or a fish breaking the surface of Oatka Creek. I'm lucky enough to be able to enjoy all of this at my own house just down the road but I still go to the park because it's an amazing place.

Monroe County wants to completely alter this character of Oatka by excavating a large area, large by any ones standards, and creating soccer fields. A truly shameful act. All of this so kids of Wheatland can play soccer even though there are already numerous parks with numerous playing fields within Wheatland where the fields are dedicated for athletic use. Not to mention the many other places that could have been slated for this type of alteration besides Oatka Park. Let's not forget the expense that this will cost Monroe County and Wheatland all the while governments at every level cry poor and take more of our money to make up for their uncontrolled spending habits

It's a County Park so the County can do as they wish, apparently, without concern as to the impacts of the local residents and this fine park. That's where our local Board should have stood up to oppose this and inform the residents of what was going on since the County wasn't willing to do so. What is really unsettling is the actions of the Wheatland Town Board to assist the County in this venture. Instead of first seeking the thoughts of the surrounding residents of Wheatland the Board has helped the County to move this along as quietly as possible.

Only until the sounds of the excavation started did a majority of residents find out about this project.

We want this park preserved because out here in the sticks we already enjoy all of this park's finer points right in our own backyards. We know how important the "feel" of this park is. We want it preserved for those who might not have the luxury of woods, streams and peace right out our front doors like so many of us have out here in the outer reaches of Monroe County.

Who knows how long we'll be able to enjoy the quiet small town life out here? If Oatka Park is left undisturbed the answer to that question will be forever.

Enough with this soccer field project and how our Board handled this.

Wheatland, this November you have a choice.

ELECT TIM DAVIS to TOWN COUNCIL

FOR THE PEOPLE

Pounding the pavement......

My posts about the many beers that have been brewed, one of which I just recently kegged,and wines I have waiting to be bottled will have to wait.

I've been busy making an attempt at getting on the ballot of the coming local election. I'm running as a third party which requires me to get 93 signatures in order to get on the ballot in November.

I've got 108 so far. I'll probably get about 20-30 more before I submit my petition on Tuesday.

I'll probably need to at least pull 350-450 votes to squeak out a win. So it's going to be a continuance of going door to door from now 'til November.

In the mean time spread the word,

Tim Davis for Wheatland Town Council.

For The People