PLEASE Don’t Drill in Our Parks-Editorial from Co-Chair of the LNCI Central Ohio Collaborative

The opinion expressed below is on behalf of Jenny Morgan and should not be construed as the opinion of our entire organization, nor the opinion of our member organizations.

I can’t believe this is being considered but it is. House Bill 133 and Senate Bill 108 are on the table right now and might be signed in a few weeks to open our parks to drilling, including the very dangerous “fracking” method, a process that shoots dangerous chemicals underground. How are we going to succeed in reconnecting our children and families with nature if our parks become polluted and filled with dangerous chemicals?! Of course they’ll say drilling is safe–that’s what they always say when they want to drill or build nuclear power plants, etc. These reassurances ring hollow anymore. There is documented proof that “fracking” is insanely dangerous. There is a fracking documentary that was up for an academy award. You can google countless articles on the dangers of fracking. Our parks do need money but how ’bout we make the state parks the centerpiece of an Ohio health and wellness plan and bring state, non-state and businesses together to implement this health and wellness initiative? ODE, ODH, ODNR, EPA, LNCI, REI, etc. all have a stake in getting our children and families healthy and we could all work together on a public awareness campaign centered around the importance of nature for our children’s healthy development. John O’Meara and his team at the Franklin County Metro Parks have done so and the metro parks are thriving. Please contact your representatives and senators and ask them to vote NO on HB 133 and SB 108 and keep our parks green and clean. And let’s have a meeting soon to draft this integrated and coordinated health and wellness plan focused around our park system. Jenny Morgan