To the Editor:

I was thrilled to read in the Times News on Jan. 28 that the Carbon County Commissioners passed a resolution in support of a ballot referendum to authorize a $10 million bond issue in support of preservation of open space and agricultural land in the county. Congratulations to the commissioners for such forward thinking and leadership, and to the Agricultural Preservation Board, the Chamber of Commerce, and others for proposing and supporting this initiative.

As someone who has been involved in conservation and environmental education for many years, I know firsthand how important it is to preserve natural areas. Our forested areas, rivers and streams, trails, and rural character make Carbon County a destination for many visitors. Many businesses that depend on tourism generate jobs and tax revenue for the county. Land preservation protects our waterways and drinking water and provides opportunities for outdoor recreation for our residents, making Carbon a beautiful place to live, enhancing our quality of life.

It is time to preserve more of what makes Carbon County beautiful and unique and prevent the loss of forest and farmland. Take a drive down Route 100 west of Allentown sometime and see what happens when a place is overdeveloped with warehouses and the like. Let’s not let that happen to our county. Let’s help our farmers preserve their land so they don’t need to develop their farms to survive economically.

During the pandemic our parking lot at Lehigh Gap Nature Center has been overflowing with walkers and hikers, as have the trailhead parking areas for all the trails in our county. The need for more such preserved areas and trails has become very apparent.

A $22 a year investment by county residents would go a long way to making Carbon a place our children, their children, and generations to come will enjoy. They will thank us all if we have the foresight to support this initiative. For our environment, our economy, our farms, and our quality of life, this is the most important and forward-thinking step that the county could take at this time.

Sincerely,

Dan R. Kunkle

Retired Executive Director, Lehigh Gap Nature Center