Editor:

This is a response to an article in the Davis County Clipper "SLC's action could make North Salt Lake's land 'worthless.'" The land in question is a beautiful grassy bench between North Salt Lake City and Salt Lake City. It is a meadow having some scrub oak, wildlife, clean air, and most importantly, quiet. There is a path going from the golf course at Eaglewood winding up and over into Salt Lake City. It is well used by bicyclists, walkers and hikers. There are places along the trail where no houses, stores, cars, paved roads are visible. It is a place to leave one's stress. This precious open land is within minutes of large metropolitan areas. It is an incredible find along this crowded Wasatch Front.

I have walked this path for 40 years. Today, Wednesday at 3 p.m. (which is not a heavy use time) there were a dozen people on the trail. How can this be called worthless or empty as the North Salt Lake mayor suggests? It is priceless, especially as open land.

It sounds as though North Salt Lake feels if land is left alone, it is deemed empty and worthless. Contractors are already busy building on North Salt Lake's portion of this land. They want to develop most of the bench --cemetery, park, housing, paved roads, cars, noise "etc." I don't know what the "etc." is.

In contrast, Salt Lake City's portion has a sign encouraging people to care for the land and baggies for people walking dogs.

A trail serves a different group of outdoor enthusiasts than do parks. We have parks in the North Salt Lake/Bountiful area, but very few trails.

I wonder how much pressure developers are using on North Salt Lake? It takes a lot to withstand the pressure of money. It takes a lot of backbone, integrity and caring to leave open land for one's children to enjoy.

Salt Lake City will be a good guardian of this wonderful piece of land. I hope the courts understand how critical this is. They aren't making any more open space. I do not belong to any group or organization.

Dorothea M. Denton

Bountiful