Another view of the Curtiss Park controversy
To the Editor,

A response to the Gilmore letter as printed in the Sunday May 13, 2007 Courier:

To the first paragraph I offer these facts: The Eminent Domain proceedings were initiated by the Town of Urbana, and did not involve the "The Friends of Hammondsport" at all. The referenced tax-revenue-producing-condos will not produce revenue as claimed in that New York State allows condo assessments to be based on comparable unit rental rates, NOT property values, a windfall for the condo owners, not the community chest. The FOH mission was to preserve the lakefront for ALL in the community, not just a select few. The extended mission was limited to promoting Curtiss Memorial Park and fundraising for such purpose, all of which terminated in August 2006.

To the second paragraph I offer these facts: The "inept" Smithsonian Air and Space magazine article was not "sponsored by", nor was it written by the FOH. As for inaccuracies and degradation, complaints should be directed to the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, not the Friends of Hammondsport. Curtiss Museum staff have admitted that could be more evidence of Curtiss' life in the area. In contrast, the writer in the first paragraph shines the light on the real reason this park project was fought against - condos and more condos. Curtiss Park was just one more obstacle in the path and despite claims to the contrary, reverence for him was again compromised for the purpose of lakefront development.

To the third paragraph I offer these facts: "Confrontational and adversarial attitude" would more accurately apply to those drove their truck over pro-park campaign signs prior to the first park vote and those who have harassed propark supporters such as myself during this entire affair. As for "conspiratorial effort", The FOH had absolutely nothing to do with the "second time around" vote or "negotiations" between the Town of Urbana and alleged property owner Mike Doyle. The Friends of Hammondsport supported the acquisition of the entire site only and stopped all park-related activities in August, 2006 when the Town of Urbana officially closed the fundraising account which had collected donations totaling $675,000.00.

To the last paragraph, "The town should get behind the program first" is a bit quizzical as from the very beginning, long before Mike Doyle bought up the controlling shares of B&H railroad property, THEY WERE. Talk of a lakefront Curtiss Park can be traced back to year 1930 and again in 1956. In contrast to the Town's initiative however, it was the real "music man /con man" figure this time that led this project into oblivion and those that liked the music followed the money.

In the end there will be no Glenn Curtiss Memorial Park on the shore of Lake Keuka in his hometown and birthplace of Hammondsport, NY. Who can earnestly speak of insults and degradation now? Who ever heard of a "sore winner"?
Geoffrey Grimsman
Hammondsport