I am pleased to see a proposal to ban hunting at Range Ponds State Park in Poland. (May 11)

I agree with Rep. Margaret Craven’s statements that this park enjoys a high volume of visitors, and hunting is not an activity this state park can safely accommodate.

As a year-round user of this park for walking, biking, kayaking, bird watching and cross-country skiing, I know exactly the volume of use this park gets year-round. Other year-round users include mothers and their children, senior citizens taking strolls, people walking dogs, disabled groups, snowmobilers, fishermen and picnickers availing themselves of the grills, tables and toilets. (Yes, these amenities are available and used year-round).

Only once was a sign posted to inform people of hunting; it was small and inconspicuous. When I inform people who walk in the park during hunting season, they respond, “Why this is a state park, they wouldn’t allow hunting in here.”

Prominent signs are posted in the park that state, “Trees, Shrubs, Flowers, Wildlife, Rocks…are part of this park…Please, leave them for others to enjoy.” Is this not a contradiction, when they allow hunting to take place in the park? Considering the size of this park, and the roads that parallel both sides of it, does it seem reasonable that this creates a safe zone for hunting?

Banning hunting at Range Ponds State Park is a serious safety issue.

I hope it gets the attention, and results, it should.

Linda McConaghy, Poland