An Editorial: Why?

Why does the City of Lorain think it's a good idea to sell the small, iconic park that pays tribute to its sons who served and died in World War I?

I’m at my wit’s end trying to understand this decision.

According to the coverage in the Morning Journal, a veterans group has expressed interest in purchasing the park property.

Consequently, Lorain City Council voted to sell the two parcels of land that make up the small park. The sale includes the “Big V” and the winged Miss Victory statue.

So that’s all it takes? An unnamed group wants to buy the park, and the city is more than willing to put it up for sale in order to make that happen.

Why?

It can’t be because of the cost of maintaining the park. It’s tiny! A two-man city crew could probably mow and edge it in about a half hour. And the Lorain Elks – to their credit – have been maintaining the Big V for years. So the park is hardly a drain on city workers or finances.

What is going on here? Why is this park – a small, charming green space in a historic neighborhood – an issue at all? And why now?

To make matters even worse, it has been suggested that the winged victory statue could be moved to Lakeview Park.

That’s a terrible idea. It’s bad enough that several monuments and markers have been already been relocated and unceremoniously grouped together, totally out of historical context, down at Lakeview Park. The last thing that is needed down there is yet another historical marker.

Anyway, the winged victory statue was dedicated with great fanfare ninety-six years ago in a community and civic celebration unrivaled in its day. It would be a disgrace, and an insult to all the soldiers who were wounded or died in World War I, for the City of Lorain to sell the park.

The dedication, April 6, 1922