Editor, Ceres Courier,

This letter is a plea to our City Council to return to the Tuolumne River Regional Park Citizens Advisory Group.  

At the Ceres Street Faire, I ran into Brandy Meyer, Chamber of Commerce president and former citizen advisor for the Tuolumne River Regional Park Commission. As it is becoming customary, I thanked her for everything she has done and continues to do for Ceres because her volunteer work touches almost all facets of this community. I let her know that I was disappointed that our council chose to withdraw from the advisory group and hoped they had a change of heart. She then explained that if Ceres returns and pays a negotiated amount, they would include Ceres as part of the envisioned river walk along Tuolumne River.  

I would hate to think that development and access to a beautifully connected regional park and river walk along the Tuolumne River is a closed book. I hope my new Councilmember, Cerina Otero, can rally the rest of the council into at least hearing out the rest of the advisory committee regarding these negotiations.

Since inauguration, I used to walk down there all alone with the park to myself, but now it’s clear lower river bluff has become a beacon for recreational activity for runners, bikers, anglers, kayakers, bird watchers, nature lovers and aviation enthusiasts – among others. Please consider a future where this regional park is the heart of this community for all those trying to avoid gangs by remaining in recreation and for those trying to escape the heat island effect in the upcoming summers. Please reconsider.

Thank you for your good intentions and everything you do for this city.

Alvaro Franco,

Ceres

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