We, concerned members of the Greater Cleveland community, along with so many other regular long-time and active members of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, are heartbroken and disappointed by the scheduled demolition of the peaceful, beautiful, serene and mature forest of the Perkins Wildlife Center for the new parking garage and museum expansion.

The forest is a unique and irreplaceable gem, a treasure in the middle of the city, that has been a beloved space for generations. Once demolished, this precious place will be lost forever. This is one of the last standing natural forests within the city of Cleveland, home not only to the rescued animals, but to hundreds of wild animals, insects, plants and endangered trees.

The media-hype, images and videos of the new Perkins wildlife center, which show the center to be cutting-edge, actually cover up the fact that the new location is inferior-- it is smaller, has few trees, almost no privacy to the surrounding traffic circles and streets, and is situated on a cliff. The decision to move the wildlife center, is mainly motivated, not out of what is best for nature, the animals, or visitors, but by the statement that it is more costly to build the parking garage and museum expansion on the cliff, versus move the animals to this location and build the parking garage on top of the old forest.

We wish the leadership of the museum would take into consideration the long-term best decision for our city, nature, and wildlife, and preserve the current forest sanctuary, while renovating it in its current location to become the cutting-edge space that is envisioned. There are alternate options as to where to build the parking garage: build the parking garage and museum expansion on the inferior cliff, or build the garage off-site with shuttle service, or build the garage underground as the Cleveland Botanical Gardens so responsibly has.

Please preserve this very special place, where families and people of all ages can meander quiet wooded paths, look into the eyes of a coyote, sit on benches in the midst of woods and hear bird songs, and commune with nature. Please do not destroy this wooded sanctuary that has generational history and meaning. Find a way to preserve Perkins in its current location. No parking garage is that important.