The Severn River Association (SRA) has won a grant from the Chesapeake Bay Trust to install bilingual signage at Jonas Green Park, according to the Friends of Anne Arundel Countys Trails July edition of Trail Talk newsletter.
Working with the Friends of Anne Arundel County Trails and the county Department of Recreation and Parks, interpretive signs will be installed explaining the educational benefits of the park’s three rain gardens, its newly installed nitrogen reduction project, the stormwater pond and the living shoreline, according to the newsletter.
Anne Arundel Community College students are documenting each feature in both English and Spanish. The text and graphic design will be done by a professional graphics artist.
Excerpt from the newsletter:
The Friends would like to extend a special thanks to Bob Whitcomb, past president of the SRA, for spearheading this effort. The many patrons of the park will have a better understanding of the unique nature of this waterfront spot through his efforts.
The Friends would also like to thank Dinny White who led the effort for the entire SRA for their generous donation for five crape myrtles in the upper parking area. Once the crape myrtles are established, they will provide additional shade, texture and color to this heretofore open space.
W. L.
9:35 am on Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Do we have that many people in the area that do not speak English?
Pat
9:44 am on Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Kevin, the ability to speak English and to read it are 2 different skills. There are many people who can speak a language but can't read it. Since Annapolis is a tourist town, I applaud the decision to make this environmental education opportunity available to more visitors. Maybe more languages could be added in the future.
LevelheadedOne
9:43 am on Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Why was donated money spent on signage for those who don't speak English? I don't think that's what people had in mind when they gave money to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. That will make people think twice before opening up the wallet if the money is going for signage and not projects that are directly beneficial to the Bay.
cynthia
11:43 am on Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Really, someone thinks that tourist's are going to Jonas Green Park. I am happy to
say that I did not and will not give any of my money to the Chesapeake Bay Trust.
What a waste of money.
W. L.
9:44 am on Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Pat, sorry but I do not think there are that many tourists in the Park area that cannot read English.Tourists to that Park? How many? Do you have a count to justify money being spent of signage for that reason? Was there a study to make sure this was necessary? Has someone from the Foundation stayed in this Park who can tell us the number of people that only read Spanish that have been there? Who decided that there were a lot of people who could not READ English that were visiting that park? What about other nationalities that visit the Park? Why Spanish and not other languages? There are assumptions here that are ridiculous and money used that could have been used where it is needed more.