I want to thank Jill Circo and Tom Carter, whose recent and eloquently written letters in support of Option 4, relating to Bidwell Park’s South Park Drive redesign, I fully support. It is the most minimalist of changes and includes the improvement most needed, repaving the street, and little else.

Chico City Council chose Option 2, the most expensive of four options. It shutters the beautiful gated main entrance off Cypress Street to cars, and reroutes them through two additional new entrances off Woodland Avenue. Why? What an affront to steer more traffic down beautiful Woodland Avenue, a street that already shoulders the brunt of constant park activity.

Most egregious, the approved “option 2” will remove healthy trees to literally pave the way for the additional entrances … that’s a non-starter for me. Sorry. I just can’t support it.

As for safety, in all the years (more than 50), that I have walked or jogged or biked through Lower Bidwell Park, I have not feared the cars. It’s the cyclists, especially now, those on motorized bikes, who won’t slow down in the face of a pedestrian. My apologies to cyclists, but there are some inconsiderate apples amongst you. I would cheer loudly for “pedestrian only” trails in Lower Park.

Chico was gifted a most splendid park, still mostly wild and natural, as it was intended to be. With loving care and maintenance, and let’s not forget code enforcement, it will serve Chico for many, many years to come.

— Pam Stoesser, Chico

Editor’s note: Every Sunday, we will select one letter from the previous seven days as our “Letter of the Week.” We’re choosing the letter that, in our view, stands as the best example of civil, thoughtful and fact-based commentary with extra points given on occasion for originality.