Auburn students launch campaign to save local park
Frances Gunnells: freshman in pre-graphic design, hands out information about the preservation of Shell Toomer Parkway on the Concourse Wednesday afternoon. Kendra Carter / NEWS EDITOR
Art class projects. T-shirts. Chewacla State Park. What do all of these things have in common?
The students in two of Debora Myles’ art classes have taken up the issue of the preservation of Shell Toomer Parkway for their final projects in the classes.
“It was all really their idea,” Myles said.
Myles asks her classes to complete a protest piece before the end of the semester. She said the students asked if they had to do it on the war or some other obviously controversial topic so she began to tell them about something in which she was involved.
“I wanted to do a topic that was more locally based so it would have more of an impact,” said Katie Gonzalez, a sophomore in pre-graphic design. After the students heard about the interest of construction on Shell Toomer Parkway and the possible effect it would have on Chewacla State Park, it became a group effort.
“I liked the idea of a shopping center because I like to shop, but there’s no need to mess up such a beautiful and peaceful place,” said Kate Mullin, a freshman in studio art.
Two different local developers are interested in the land for developments of a shopping area, car dealership, possible movie theater and housing.
One developer, Tom Hayley, who is operating as West Pace LLC, is suing the state for damages totaling $21 million dollars and access to the road.
Hayley and his lawyer, Russell Balch, claim the previous owners of the land had access to the parkway.
The state filed for a change of venue to move the case from Lee to Montgomery County.
If Hayley is allowed to develop on the land and cut into the parkway, the bike trail into the state park would be compromised. Additionally,
Myles said the road would be unable to handle the influx of traffic coming into the area.
“I do live out on that road,” Myles said. “This has kind of been my thing until (the students) decided to get involved.”
The students in Myles’ classes designed T-shirts and sold them on the Concourse Tuesday and Wednesday. The proceeds from the shirts went directly to the Citizens for the Preservation of Shell Toomer Parkway.
“I think more people need to be heard and know about it so they can make an informed decision,” Myles said.
The classes’ artwork about the preservation effort will be on display and for sale at Cambridge Coffee beginning April 24.
The students will be attending the May 6 Auburn City Council Meeting.
“I wanted to get involved in something important to the Auburn community instead of just the University,” said Frances Gunnells, freshman in pre-graphic design.
Many of the students involved agree with Gunnells, including Gonzalez.
“I think getting college students involved will impress the community,” Gonzalez said. “A lot of college students I know don’t pay much attention to anything that happens outside the University.”
