What part of no park fees does the Cape Elizabeth Town Council misunderstand? Once again, certain members of the council are attempting to influence other members of the council and the community to buy into charging fees at Fort Williams Park.

Granted, the park is one of the most scenic spots in the state, with its beautiful vista of Casco Bay and its nationally famous Portland Head Light, commissioned by George Washington in 1790. It is one of the oldest and most photographed lighthouses in America. The view of the surrounding islands, the landscaped trees, shrubs, and native flowers, add charm and beauty to this historic park.

In 1873, the military outpost was known as the Battery. It was later renamed Fort Williams in honor of Seth Williams, a Maine native and Army adjutant general. A number of copper plaques placed in designated areas of the park, describe the various buildings and gun installations that were a part of Fort Williams. In 1989, the last sailor to man the lighthouse was reassigned, and the light in the tower is now automated. The Army site was purchased by Cape Elizabeth for $200,000.

At present, the financial success of Fort Williams Park is largely due to the gift shop, museum, park weddings, and private donations. A few years back, a generous donation from Augustus Barber (Barber Foods of Portland) enabled the town to add the Cliff Walk along the edges of the former military outpost, with magnificent views of the ocean. Other recent additions include the Battery Blair Memorial, with pictures of its six gun batteries and a photo history of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s Civilian Conservation Corps program for unemployed men between the ages of 18 and 25. Fort Williams was the state headquarters induction center for Civilian Conservation Corps enrollees before they were assigned to one of Maine’s 28 camps. Fort Williams remained an active Army base until 1964. Indeed, Fort Williams Park carries a great deal of history.

Having said that, I believe charging admission fees to a town park is a bad idea. A municipal park fee could very well set a terrible precedent for cities and towns throughout the state that have always had free and open parks for the visiting public, which are paid for, of course, by the tax payers of the community. An attempt to utilize community parks as cash cows would be considered as both self defeating to the purpose of open parks, and seen as a form of greed by visitors.

Cape Elizabeth residents, in particular, should be aware of the negative reaction by thousands of tourists who visit their community, since the Cape is one of the wealthiest towns in the state. At present, the tax cost to Cape residents to support the park is approximately 14 cents a day; to add insult to injury. The council proposal would exempt Cape residents from paying a fee. If residents are really outraged by the “exorbitant” cost, why not charge visitors a 15 cent fee to enter the park? Sound ridiculous? It is.

This shortsighted effort to charge fees has been pushed by Town Manager Michael McGovern and council member Mary Anne Lynch. They have been advocating parking fees for a number of years, although a fee schedule has been voted down repeatedly in the past. Apparently, other members of the council have been influenced to their way of thinking, with the exception of councilor Carol Fritz, who I applaud for taking a courageous stand against the proposal.

I strongly urge the residents of Cape Elizabeth, as well as citizens of other communities, to think very carefully before advocating this terrible idea.

Petros Panagakos

South Portland

What part of no park fees does the Cape Elizabeth Town Council misunderstand? Once again, certain members of the council are attempting to influence other members of the council and the community to buy into charging fees at Fort Williams Park.

Granted, the park is one of the most scenic spots in the state, with its beautiful vista of Casco Bay and its nationally famous Portland Head Light, commissioned by George Washington in 1790. It is one of the oldest and most photographed lighthouses in America. The view of the surrounding islands, the landscaped trees, shrubs, and native flowers, add charm and beauty to this historic park.

In 1873, the military outpost was known as the Battery. It was later renamed Fort Williams in honor of Seth Williams, a Maine native and Army adjutant general. A number of copper plaques placed in designated areas of the park, describe the various buildings and gun installations that were a part of Fort Williams. In 1989, the last sailor to man the lighthouse was reassigned, and the light in the tower is now automated. The Army site was purchased by Cape Elizabeth for $200,000.

At present, the financial success of Fort Williams Park is largely due to the gift shop, museum, park weddings, and private donations. A few years back, a generous donation from Augustus Barber (Barber Foods of Portland) enabled the town to add the Cliff Walk along the edges of the former military outpost, with magnificent views of the ocean. Other recent additions include the Battery Blair Memorial, with pictures of its six gun batteries and a photo history of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s Civilian Conservation Corps program for unemployed men between the ages of 18 and 25. Fort Williams was the state headquarters induction center for Civilian Conservation Corps enrollees before they were assigned to one of Maine’s 28 camps. Fort Williams remained an active Army base until 1964. Indeed, Fort Williams Park carries a great deal of history.

Having said that, I believe charging admission fees to a town park is a bad idea. A municipal park fee could very well set a terrible precedent for cities and towns throughout the state that have always had free and open parks for the visiting public, which are paid for, of course, by the tax payers of the community. An attempt to utilize community parks as cash cows would be considered as both self defeating to the purpose of open parks, and seen as a form of greed by visitors.

Cape Elizabeth residents, in particular, should be aware of the negative reaction by thousands of tourists who visit their community, since the Cape is one of the wealthiest towns in the state. At present, the tax cost to Cape residents to support the park is approximately 14 cents a day; to add insult to injury. The council proposal would exempt Cape residents from paying a fee. If residents are really outraged by the “exorbitant” cost, why not charge visitors a 15 cent fee to enter the park? Sound ridiculous? It is.

This shortsighted effort to charge fees has been pushed by Town Manager Michael McGovern and council member Mary Anne Lynch. They have been advocating parking fees for a number of years, although a fee schedule has been voted down repeatedly in the past. Apparently, other members of the council have been influenced to their way of thinking, with the exception of councilor Carol Fritz, who I applaud for taking a courageous stand against the proposal.

I strongly urge the residents of Cape Elizabeth, as well as citizens of other communities, to think very carefully before advocating this terrible idea.

Petros Panagakos

South Portland