Buffer Zone

Another concerned citizen looking out for his neighbors in today's Fort Worth Star-Telegram daily newspaper. Timing is everything, as the Trinity River Vision Authority says the Trinity Trails at University will be under construction starting today.

People of Fort Worth - start looking for an "alternate" route.

Enforce gas ordinance

The city of Fort Worth has a gas drilling ordinance. Unfortunately, the council seems to disregard it, especially when it comes to our city parks and the Trinity Trails.
An unfortunate precedent was set when the council voted unanimously to allow drilling in Greenwood Memorial Park and the use of a park road by drillers. Now pad sites are within a few feet of the trails at Old University Drive, and as of Sept. 1, council is allowing up to eight wells as close as 225 feet from Trinity Park. The ordinance, put in place to protect and enhance our city, designated a 600-foot buffer.

Gateway Park, one of the supposed jewels in the crown of the Trinity River Vision, is ringed by pad sites, including two at or near its main entrance.

Some mitigation is occasionally proposed, as it was on Sept. 1. We all understand, though, that mitigation is a euphemism for damage control.

I call upon the council to adhere to the gas drilling ordinance and not make a mockery of it by granting variances as a matter of course. Most cities consider their parks to be treasures to be protected. I expect elected representatives to do likewise and protect us and our parks by upholding the ordinance.

— Paul John Roach, senior minister, Unity Church of Fort Worth

Amen.