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A
recent story
in the Boston Globe's South Weekly states that Friends of the
Blue Hills "wants Quarry Hills to build the walking paths around
the golf course that it says were promised by the developer."
Note that the Globe is careful
not to support our assertion that any such promises were made.
Is this
a promise? Is this? Is this?
Quarry Hills would like to bar everyone
but fee-paying golfers from the 440 acres of public land they lease
in Quincy and Milton. In their opinion, the commitments they made
before the project began (and before they received $100 million in
public money) are of no consequence.
This is not about the Friends of the
Blue Hills. It's about privatization of public resources. It's about
'No Trespassing' signs on public land. It will be a sad day for open
space if Quarry Hills succeeds in barring pedestrian access to the
Blue Hills Reservation and other parklands, or to the historic quarries
and scenic vistas on the site itself.
Here's an annotated
aerial from 2001 showing the paths proposed by FBH versus those
offered by Quarry Hills. The FBH paths trace pre-existing
trails that were in use for decades. The Quarry Hills paths never
actually enter the area, except for a spur that goes up the driveway.
A year and a half ago public officials
in Quincy and Milton called
for the paths to be provided. Nothing was delivered. The Quincy Conservation
Commission has tried more than once to secure the paths, having required
them as part of its original project approval. No
luck there either.
Earlier
this month Quarry Hills hosted a $500-a-plate
political breakfast for Gov. Romney. We don't doubt that the assembled
worthies enjoyed the fine views of the Blue Hills.
Too bad the site's public owners can't
enjoy these views. If Quarry Hills has its way, they'll be reserved
for paying guests only.
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