Viewpoint: Chicken Little strikes again

By Agatha Reardon

E arlier this year, a photograph of the children’s playground with the caption “The city is proposing to turn part of Mitchell Park into a parking lot for the adjacent Senior Center” was placed above the opinion columns opposing a small parking area behind the San Luis Obispo Senior Center.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. The reaction of some people to the photo was fear that the children’s playground and a large area of the park are going to be paved over. They told others, and now many people believe it.

It reminds me of my youth when I read the story about Chicken Little, who told everyone, “The sky is falling!” and panic ensued. The sky is not falling. The city is not proposing to pave over Mitchell Park.

Seniors need and asked for relief for some of our community elders who are mobility challenged. The relief is a small parking lot in the area which has been the Senior Center backyard since the mid-70s. The area is less than 4 percent of the entire park and will serve more than the spaces allotted due to carpooling.

The proposed parking area is located behind the Senior Center. It is not a threat to those who use the park. Anyone in the community will still have the benefit of enjoying the park bandstand, lush trees, the children’s playground, walking their dogs, having a picnic in the beautiful grassy area and all the amenities they enjoy today.

Most people will hardly notice the small parking lot nestled behind the building. The landscaping will include seven new trees, additional foliage and new fencing. Those who will notice the positive difference it will make are the mobility challenged seniors.

Agatha Reardon is the president of the Senior Center board.