To the Editor:

George and Priscilla Meredith and the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department deserve our appreciation for the tremendous amount of time, money, energy and efforts to try to bring about the establishment of Grouse Mountain as a state park. Their visionary views for this exceptional natural resource area, which could have been protected and allowed access and enjoyment for the public and future generations of Oregonians, is to be applauded.

The outdoor recreational use for this property, once it was established and developed, as a destination park and an attraction to draw tourists and recreational money to a strapped economy in Grant County will not happen now. Also lost are whatever additional monies that could have been infused into the county from the potential hiring of state park seasonal/permanent employees and monies for private contractor projects at the ranch, as well as other benefits for local businesses.

Through the efforts of a small, strong-willed, vocal group of individuals in the county, with a lack of vision for benefits for the future, and the insincere and half-hearted efforts of these people and the County Court toward good-faith negotiating, the deal is dead. And with it, comes a great loss for the future in Grant County. Now the State Parks Commission can spend its time and efforts in other parts of Oregon where they will be appreciated.