Preserving Chauncey Peak

Editor:

Thank you to members of the Meriden Conservation Commission for confronting the threat to Chauncy Peak from relentless quarrying, as reported in the Record-Journal.

Some questions we all should consider:

Will quarry owners publicly disclose their plans and timeline for future excavation of Chauncey Peak?

Will city officials engage in direct conversations with the quarry owners concerning the future of Chauncey Peak?

As the quarry expands, might blasting threaten the physical integrity of nearby cliff faces within the Giuffrida Park boundaries?

Do expanded quarry operations potentially affect water quality in the Bradley-Hubbard reservoir (Crescent Lake)?

Is there any protection for historic inscriptions on Chauncey Peak?

What will be the impact of quarry expansion and loss of mountain landscape on homeowners’ property values in the area, when they live alongside a quarry pit?

Does the company have reasonable alternatives to quarry elsewhere on its extensive land holdings?

What federal, state and private philanthropic grant sources are available for the purpose of preserving Chauncey Peak?

How can we calculate the value of Chauncey Peak to Meriden, not only as a recreational resource that attracts countless visitors, but as a unique, irreplaceable treasure of nature?

What other strategies will the City of Meriden pursue to achieve the permanent preservation of Chauncey Peak?

Those who want to protect Chauncey Peak recognize that the quarry company is an important local business and we truly appreciate that it allows hikers access to its private property. We should identify the most important parcels, in terms of environmental and recreational significance, and raise the funds to either purchase them or pay the company for a conservation easement.

Please remember, mountains do not grow back.

Jeffrey Freiser, Meriden