Many of us have visited running and cycling areas around the country and we are thankful that our areas are maintained by men and women who obviously care a great deal about them.

Many communities have gone a little crazy in manicuring their public areas. They removed all the brush, planted grass, and put up "keep off the grass" signs. What was left was an antiseptic area that the public was allowed to only view from afar.

In Keene, the dedicated people in the Public Works Department maintain the Paths and those in the Parks, Recreation, and Facilities Department maintain the parks and Ashuelot River trail.

Some of the areas are grassy patches that invite a blanket to snooze in the sun or have a picnic. Other areas are natural views of the river, forest, brush inhabited by raccoons, squirrels, skunks, beaver, rabbits, and birds of all kinds.

Each of these areas invite public use. When potential dangers are reported, corrective action occurs rapidly.

• Report a problem, send an e-mail to

• Send a comment to the maintainers, send an e-mail to

We will forward you messages to the appropriate city departments and collect representative samples for publication.

May 2002 - I used to run the Charles River Basin in Boston. After many great years of drinking-in the natural beauty, the brush was clear-cut along the riverbank. In the process all the critters (ducks, geese, rabbits, swans) moved away. I am thankful that common sense prevails in Keene.