It was a gloomy morning. Although it began with a light
snowfall that might have been lovely, by the time I reached Downer Woods the
snow had turned to drizzle and the overcast sky dimmed. Despite the undeniably
dreary day, however, the gloom I felt had more to do with the news than the
weather.
Since I live clear across town in Wauwatosa I don’t go to
Downer Woods often. But when I heard the news I was impelled to do the things
that come naturally to me: to walk in the woods and make photographs. The news?
Governor Walker’s latest budget proposal includes a provision to remove
protection of the “the sole remaining natural area on the
campus of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee”—in the words of the very
Wisconsin Code that established that protection.
As I walked beneath the leafless trees
I wondered whether Scott Walker had ever been to Downer Woods.
The code goes on to say this of the
woods: “…Its preservation and enhancement is consistent with the university's
recognition of its need to protect and enhance its own physical environment,
and to serve the pressing human need of its faculty, students and staff, as
well as the greater Milwaukee community, to live and work in an urban
environment which respects those portions of unspoiled nature which yet exist.
The woods is a unique asset; it provides visual relief to the concentrated
building pattern surrounding it, complements the urban landscape and affords
aesthetically and psychologically attractive places for people to congregate and
relax. In addition, the woods serves as a refuge for wildlife and vegetation,
and is, therefore, an important educational, scientific and ecological resource
to the university and the community.”
The provision concludes: “Its presence
imparts priceless recreational and aesthetic values.”
No matter how many times I read that
paragraph, I can’t for the life of me fathom what part of it could be
objectionable. In fact, bureaucratese rarely articulates the value of urban natural
areas as clearly as this. Who wouldn’t want to protect and enhance their own
physical environment? Well, I guess we know the answer.
Furthermore, this proposal comes from a
governor who, far from walking in any Wisconsin woods, has been spending more
time outside the state lately for his unannounced campaign. Imagine natural
areas all over the country that might be sacrificed if his relentless drive
towards higher office were achieved.
I’ve objected to many of the governor’s
choices relating to the environment, from his selection of the DNR director to relaxation
of regulations to benefit mining companies. But if I do the mental gymnastics
required to see those policies from the dark side of the looking glass there is
at least some recognizable logic. Where is the logic in singling out an 11-acre
oasis on a university campus? It would seem petty if it weren’t so patently
destructive.
I can imagine only two motives: someone
influential will benefit economically from the development of the land or the
governor considers this a twisted kind of retribution for political opposition.
But I readily concede that the governor’s motive may exceed my powers of
imagination.
It doesn’t take long to walk from one
corner of the woods to the other. Footprints in the new fallen snow indicate
that even on gloomy days the opportunity to enjoy nature is appreciated by the
community of students and neighbors. I shoot a number of photographs.
Inevitably, they reflect the somber mood of the day.
I imagine this scenery in spring. And hope generations of
students who live in the tall dormitory towers next to Downer Woods will be
able to appreciate its priceless recreational and aesthetic values.
For other perspectives and broader analyses of this issue, go to
"Walker budget targets Downer Woods" at Urban Milwaukee.
"Walker budget deletes preservation of UWM Downer Woods, historic buildings" at The Political Environment.
"Pervasive Walker budget leads every countty to search for its own 'Downer Woods'" from Dom's Domain.
For other perspectives and broader analyses of this issue, go to
"Walker budget targets Downer Woods" at Urban Milwaukee.
"Walker budget deletes preservation of UWM Downer Woods, historic buildings" at The Political Environment.
"Pervasive Walker budget leads every countty to search for its own 'Downer Woods'" from Dom's Domain.
