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Leave trail alone • <br /> My apologies to supporters of Amazon Trail <br /> improvements for stereotyping them as "yup- <br /> pies"; however, my objections to the proposed <br /> "improvements" still stand. <br /> The only plan I have seen to date was a <br /> drawing posted at the track two years ago, <br /> which showed paved parking, public restrooms <br /> and 96 lights --I counted them and wasn't the <br /> only one to note the large number. Regardless <br /> of, their number and type, lights cannot be in- <br /> stalled without having a negative environmen- <br /> tal and aesthetic impact on the area. <br /> Eric Zemper (letters, March 26) considers <br /> the present trail "hardly rustic "; to me a bark <br /> trail surrounding a stand of trees and grass is <br /> infinitely more rustic than the same trail sur- <br /> rounded by lampposts, parking lots and con- <br /> crete outhouses. <br /> As to his contention that the trail is "devel- <br /> oped and well - maintained," check out the <br /> trashed and burned "shelter" at the north end <br /> of the track, or the donated drinking fountain <br /> that always seems to be either stopped up or <br /> leaking. Donors may well pay installation costs <br /> for lighting, but who will pay to maintain those <br /> lights? Who pays for the electricity to run the <br /> lights? <br /> None of the respondents to my objections <br /> actually lives in the Amazon neighborhood, yet <br /> they seem to have no reservations about urging <br /> "development" of parks in other people's back <br /> yards. Most disturbing is the fact that this pro- <br /> posal has germinated for two years with no <br /> apparent attempt to inform neighbors of the <br /> park as to what was being planned. <br /> The trail is fine the way it is; leave it alone! <br /> HIAWATHA <br /> Eugene <br />