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Congratulations to Mr.Sanchez on the nomination or selection of his film for local film festivals. I applaud recognition of artistic merit.

However, since it is presented as a documentary, a few factual clarifications are in order:

- the "Old Put" is not a nature trail, but rather a railroad line that was abandoned nearly forty years ago. Van Cortlandt Park has 31 other miles of nationally-renowned and designated running, hiking, and nature trails throughout its 1100 acres.

. the 'widening' picture above is not the "clear-cutting" that the picture implies. The improved path will come from the area alongside where the rotting, creosote-soaked, carcinogen-leeching railroad ties are covered by weeds. These leeching railroad ties are a much greater threat to VCP wetlands than 175 lb. cyclists on rubber tires in addition to 175 lb. walkers/runners in rubber shoes!

- the 400 "trees" to be removed are Norway Maple, an invasive species (i.e., overgrown weed) that is recognized as a serious forest problem by arborists throughout the Northeast. However, the 100+ year-old trees that line the edges of this abandoned railroad right-of-way will be untouched, and continue to provide the fantastic shade canopy as it has for generations. To see what it will look like for hikers, runners, and cyclists alike, I encourage you to go about one mile north of the City line to Mile Square Road in Yonkers, and see how lush the canopy is there. It is so thick, that there is no increase in asphalt temperature in this shade, even on the hottest summer day!

- NYC Audubon acknowledged in March that "it appears unlikely that the project would have long-term adverse effects on the bird population of VCP," and it "does not support the alternate resurfacing plan proposed by SPT that calls for the use of crushed stone, as this could result in decreased quality of rainwater runoff."

From: Putnam Trail documentary wins acclaim

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