Page 8-Saturday, June 16, 1979-The Michigan Daily
County park project draws protests from area residents
By RICK BLANCHARD
To most people, a sandy beach, dense
woods, and a sparkling lake mean a
relaxed Sunday afternoon or perhaps a
carefree day of swimming and sun-
bathing. But to many of the residents
near the site of the county's Indepen-
dence Lake park project, the develop-
ment means more traffic, big crowds,
and increased litter in their neigh-
borhood.
The Washtenaw County Parks and
Recreation Commission broke ground
last Sunday for a 322 acre park, which is
estimated to cost $450,000. The park,
located 10 miles north of Ann Arbor,
will be "one of the top recreation areas
to be offered in Washtenaw County,"
according to park superintendent Stacy
Fox.'
"We plan to embroider on the
existing resources," Fox said, adding
the county plans to "reshape the sun-
bathing area, realign the half-mile en-
trance road, develop natural trails, and
stabilize the long shoreline."
BUT SOME area residents are not so
enthused. "People drive bad enough as
it is on these roads," said area resident
Roy Barnett. "I'd hate to see the added
litter it would bring," he added. "It is
bad enough already."
Daniel Godfrey, whose home is
across from the proposed entrance to
the park, said the unpaved roads in the
area are not designed for the-volume of
traffic that he believes the park would
attract. "We are going to get dusted
out," he said.
But another resident expressed more
hope that local dwellers and the park
could peacefully coexist. "If the (coun-
ty) keeps to their master plan, which
indicates a nature-oriented park, things
will go well," Robert Seel.ye said. "The
park will be an asset to the com-
munity."_
SEELYE ADDED the park com-
mission and the Independence Lake
Association have worked well together
on anticipated problems with the
development.
Park superintendent Fox said he un-
derstood residents' concerns over the
park but expressed hope that any
problems could be worked out. "When
you hear that a park is going up next
door, you are going to be concerned,"
she said. "But we have tried very
carefully to touch base with the
residents and keep them abreast of
what's going on; any negative effects
will be minimized."
Fox said the park will be similar to
the area's Silver Lake Park, although
she said the new project will accom-
modate fewer people. "The parking
area of Independence Lake will ac-
commodate 175 cars,"she said. "Silver
Lake Park has a capacity of 500 cars."
Tanker flips near
Ypsi, closes 1-94
YPSILANTI (UPI) A tanker truck traffic was allowed to resume.
hauling 8,000 gallons of liquid propane Ford spokesman Mike Davis said the
hit a bridge abutment and flipped on its company temporarily closed its plant
side yesterday, injuring the driver and near the accident site, sending home
forcing officials to clear up to a mile- 330 midnight shift employees about 6:20
square area as a precaution. a.m.
State Police closed the east- and Ford also sent home the 2,000 day-
westbound lanes of a four-mile stretch shift workers as they arrived at the
of busy Interstate 94 while authorities plant and later canceled the afternoon
drained off the highly explosive shift, affecting another 1,200 em-
propane into a second tanker brought to ployees.
the scene. THE AUTOMAKER had hoped the
A "VERY, VERY small" leak was plant, which makes electrical parts,
noticed when the transfer operation horns, starters and other parts for
began but Ypsilanti fire officials said it Ford's Electrical and Electronics
presented no immediate danger. Division, could have been back in
As a safety measure, fire officials operation by late afternoon.
earlier recommended closing a Ford The truck's owner, Propane Tran-
Motor Co. parts plant about 200 yards sport Inc. of Milford, Ohio, was notified
from the accident site, along with of the accident but a Detroit firm
several small businesses and a city specializing in handling dangerous
sewage treatment plant. materials also was called in, State
Also evacuated was a nearly vacant Police Sgt. Lyle Schroeder said.
junior high school near the accident The truck driver, identified as Larry
scene. The school was not in session, Hamm, 33, of Bluffton, Ind., was taken
but some teachers and students were to St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Ann Ar-
inside the building, Ypsilanti Fire Capt. bor,-where he was listed in fair con-
John Coleman said. dition with unspecified injuries.
ABOUT A half-mile to mile-square ---------
area was cleared but no residences
were affected, Coleman said. TEMPERAMENTAL
"As a precautionary measure, the TOLEDO, Ohio (AP)-Max, a
general area'has been cleared, od mGer s
Coleman said. "This tanker is in a low gete orileimotedofrteomtGe rmyiste
area. If it should erupt, it really tractions at the Toledo Zoo l
wouldn't be too damging, I don't The 312-pound male animal is already
Firefighters hosed down the tanker to up to pulling tricksMax for a physical
keep it cool while the transfer of the examination and movement to the zoo's
liquid continued. new ape house, Dr. Joseph Hardin, a
THE DELICATE operation to drain veterinarian, shot a tranquilizer dart
the liquid propane took much of the into the gorilla's hide.
day. The tanker finally was removed Max pulled it out and thre it at Dr.
from the highway shortly before 6 p.m. Hardin.
and both eastbound and westbound
Community leaders clash
on abortion funding issue
(Continued from Page 3)
nment said states could continue to "small victory" for right-to-lifers who
provide funding, if they wanted. are not only trying to stop all abortions
but "save all lives." Rice said he
Michigan provides state-funded abor- believes "a child is a human being from
tions, but the plan will discontinue if a the moment of conception."
current bill, now under review by the
Senate Health and Social Services Thursday, the Senate voted 19-11 to
Committee, passes. The bill is spon- join a suit against Gov. William
sored by Sen. Edgar. Fredricks (R- Milliken, who recently vetoed a plan
Holland), and would abolish Medicaid- whici would give $1 to Medicaid-funded
funded abortions. abortions. The Senate conteuids that
Milliken is acting beyond his power as
Rice said, however, that even if the governor by becoming involved with
bill passes, he would only consider it a appropriations..