Larry Dolphin, director of the J.

Friday, November 03, 2000

Larry Dolphin, director of the J.C. Hormel Nature Center, describes a cartoon he gave to members of the Austin Parks, Recreation and Forestry Board. A couple sit in the midst of the woods, far from the madding crowd, enjoying the different sounds that nature makes.

One says to the other, "It’s so lovely out here, you wonder why it has to be so far from the city."

"That’s what it’s all about for me," he says. "Keeping the nature center as wild and free as we can. That may be a puristic stand, but those are my personal feelings on the issue after listening to both sides."

At issue in the referendum is the annexation by ordinance of 55 acres of land west of the nature center, land that was annexed by ordinance by the Austin City Council in May for the purpose of building homes on the land, now farmland.

It’s up to the voters on Tuesday to decide whether the annexation will proceed now. A "yes" vote on the referendum is a vote of support for the annexation; a "no" vote means the voter doesn’t want to see the land annexed.

Dolphin plans to vote "no."

Dolphin stresses the word "personal" several times throughout the conversation on the annexation, making it clear that he is speaking as Larry Dolphin, nature lover and Austin resident, and not on behalf of the city of Austin or the Parks and Recreation Department. He adds that his concerns are environmental, not political.

However, he felt he had to make a stand in case his silence on the subject was misinterpreted as support for the housing development.

"From a personal standpoint, I have worries about this development being the start of a process that would end up with the nature center being surrounded," Dolphin said. "I also am concerned about the light and sound pollution that will come from having that many more homes near the nature center, the increased traffic on the roads nearby, and the impact of both on the wildlife here."

It’s the integrity of the nature center that Dolphin is worried about, not stopping further housing development in Austin.

"If there is a potential for the development to go somewhere else besides this spot, that’s great," Dolphin said. "But once the development’s there, it’s there. You can’t go back or change it."

Dolphin’s fear is based on a previous example in Minnesota, the Springbrook Nature Center in Fridley. Twenty-five years ago, the Springbrook Nature Center was on the edge of town; now it’s totally surrounded.

"Once this development goes in, when will it end?" he said. "I see this 55 acres as the beginning of the potential for another Fridley. The nature center is certain to lose some of its diversity and wildlife integrity if 10 years down the road more development comes in."

As nature center director, Dolphin said he was pleased with the results of the task force that was convened earlier this year to discuss the future of the nature center. He agreed with the fact that a buffer zone between the development and the nature center would help mitigate some of the affects of more housing, and he liked that the task force recommended the city look toward expansion to the north for the nature center and examine the possibilities for the preservation of a wildlife corridor between Todd Park and the nature center. He was, however, personally frustrated that the city didn’t show any interest at all in acquiring the land to the west.

For now, he’s simply glad that the annexation issue made it to referendum.

"It’s the people’s choice, whatever they decide, I will go with," he said. "I am just glad this issue is going to a vote of the people."