Are the Logansport city parks a strength or weakness?

To the casual visitor, and certainly to respondents to the city's own parks master plan, the answer is "strength." But to the Martin Administration, the answer is "weakness."

The five members he appointed to the Parks and Recreation Board were tasked with downsizing the parks system, and actually giving back Burkhart Park to its previous owner, Burkhart Advertising. But Martin's moves, including the sale of the Benjamin Long Center and the potential loss of East Melbourne Park, leave the west side with no park facilities. Meanwhile, Patriots Park, which had been ticketed for a mysterious housing project that has yet to come to fruition, is in limbo. Dunwoody Park on the Eel River at 18th Street also is in limbo. Residents near it don't want it to be sold or turned into apartments -- a move that would create traffic issues on 18th Street. Yet Martin seems resolute in wanting to rid the city of assets that have taken decades to acquire, develop and maintain for public use.

His awkward handling of the park system is among many reasons why Logansport residents are signing a petition demanding that he resign. Logansport has a remarkable set of parks that set it apart from other cities our size -- and larger. Please sign and share this petition, particularly if you are served by these endangered parks and you're concerned about what kinds of owners -- and priorities -- Martin would allow by selling them.

Thank you for caring for our community and its future.