Olmsted Conservancy, whose anti-mountain biking policies over the years got us banned from Iroquois and darn near kicked out of Cherokee Park, is having another one of those moments that cause you to scratch your head and ask, what were they thinking (?).
The new Olmsted President & CEO, Mimi Zinneil, has decided to award Senator Mitch McConnell their top award this Friday Oct. 26 at a “Roaring ‘20s Gala” at the ritzy Henry Clay Hotel at 3rd and Chestnut.
For the paltry sum of only $250 (per person) tickets for the “BOO-La-La-Fete D’Halloween Ball” can be purchased directly from Olmsted.
For those of you that don’t have an extra $250 sitting around (make that $500 if you take your significant other) for dinner and dancing, you can choose the real world option and join protesters from 5 pm to 9 pm across the street from the Henry Clay Hotel. Let Kentucky’s Senior Senator (and the elitist, privileged Olmsted Group) know that you don’t support his 0% rating from the League of Conservation Voters. That’s right, despite a ZERO percent rating from the well-respected League of Conservation Voters Olmsted is honoring our Senior Senator with a conservation award!
Furthermore, let your displeasure with the illegal and ill-advised occupation of Iraq be known. Senator’s McConnell’s strategy of never-ending war (which is being charged to future generations) in exchange for oil is simply wrong.
Over the years Olmsted Conservancy has served as some sort of quasi-Metro Parks agency that’s accountable to no one. Unfortunately for mountain bikers, this has resulted in closed-door anti-populist decision making that caters to the elite, privileged and affluent.
Olmsted designed his parks to be enjoyed by the masses. Olmsted Conservancy has twisted that philosophy inside out, catering to the fortunate few in our community that own horses, but turning its back on the average working family that can only afford a mountain bike.
How many working class families do you think will be attending the $500 per couple ball? It’s no wonder that Olmsted Conservancy fails to hear the voice of the people of this community. And to make matters worse, our tax-payer funded Metro Parks follow in lockstep with these undemocratic and unfair policies.
To see just how much Olmsted appreciates all the sweat equity and hard work put in by mountain bikers over the years, just visit their website and look for any mention (besides one link to the local clubs website) of mountain bikers. They don't hesitate to praise the trail work done by the "Heritage Girls" group from SE Christian, or several others volunteer groups, but absolutely no mention of mountain bikers whatsoever.
In conclusion, call or write Mimi Zinneil, Olmsted Conservancy President and CEO, 456-8125, mimi.zinniel@olmstedparks.org and let her know that you don’t support the award being given to Senator McConnell, and ask when we’ll regain the access we lost at Iroquois Park.
I think we can safely say
I think we can safely say that Mr. Olmsted turned over in his grave this past weekend after Olmsted Conservancy awarded our crafty Senator McConnell an award for his conservation efforts.
Olmsted was a well-known and resolute conservationist. I doubt if he agrees with McConnell’s overall efforts in regards to our open spaces (despite his local fund raising efforts) which includes: supporting efforts for oil drilling in the Artic National Wildlife Refuge, as well as supporting the timber industry in their efforts to build more logging roads in our national forests. It’s no wonder he received a ZERO rating from the League of Conservation Voters.
Both Olmsted Conservancy and Senator McConnell are out-of-touch when it comes to serving the interests of the tax-paying public. Olmsted’s prior long-serving Chief Executive held sway over Metro Parks policies and decision making. She was one of the chief architects of the elitist closed-door decision making process that got us banned from Iroquois (and Jefferson Memorial Forest). Please contact Olmsted Conservancy and inquire as to when we’ll regain access to Iroquois Park.