Some Unionville residents are very concerned about the future of their park. Pershing County owns the land the little park sits on in Unionville; it used to be called the "Scout Park".
In September, Pershing County commissioners had the old poplar trees in the park cut down. The action was taken due to fears about the interior integrity of the trees, according to Pershing County Commissioner Pat Irwin.
Pershing County is understandably nervous about potential safety hazards involving old tree limbs after the accident in July 2008, when a tree limb fell on several residents attending Lovelock's yearly Frontier Days celebration. Residents Virginia Rose and Kirsten Hertz were left with traumatic injuries, while other victims suffered moderate to minor injuries. As a result of the incident, Rose's lower legs had to be amputated and Hertz has suffered from long-term health problems.
"Our immediate concern is safety at the park," said Irwin.
Those with concerns about the park in Unionville are Martha Jones, her brother David Jones, and their mother Mitzi. They are involved with a bed and breakfast inn in the little town.
Other residents in Unionville who've expressed concern, according to Martha Jones, are Roger Thompson, Gary Coleman, Bill Knoop and Janet Perry.
Jones said the residents are sad that the beautiful old trees were removed and not entirely convinced of the pressing need or safety concerns. But they concede that it's too late now, since the trees have been gone for several weeks.
What they're hoping now, is to have input on what happens at the park next, and they want to find a way to protect the two historic buildings on the property - most importantly, what's left of the little rock cabin - number 232 on the state's historic register. The marker at the site confirms the cabin as having been Mark Twain's, saying he built it in 1861. He wrote about it in his books, and lived in Unionville before moving to Virginia City.
"We know it's too late for the trees," said David Jones, "but we want to protect what's left of the little cabin and the other historic building."
Jones' mother said they get visitors regularly at the bed and breakfast who've come, even from Europe, to see what's left of Mark Twain's cabin.
Martha Jones said residents don't want the stumps from the trees that were cut down dug up and removed either, as it would tear up the ground and endanger the cabin.
"We would have chipped in money, we'd have done a lot of things to make those trees safe for the public, but we weren't given the chance," she said, adding that residents are willing to help take care of the park. They've been working with Pershing County Commissioner Carol Shank to protect what's left at the park, according to Jones.
"We want to do what's safe, what's right, but we want to have the opportunity to give input," she said.
Irwin said the commissioners plan to have a community meeting regarding the future of the park in Unionville. "We're looking at whether we can restore the cabin and the main building. It would be great if we could restore those," Irwin said.
He added that the commissioners want input from the Unionville residents as to future plans for the park. Irwin promised that everyone has been put on notice that no more changes are to be made at the park until that meeting is held and commissioners approve a plan going forward.
Lovelock Review-Miner reporter Debra Reid contributed to this story.[[In-content Ad]]
