Editor:

We just had a very important event in Daphne, with the report of the McMahon Group resident survey of Lake Forest.

The study indicates that the time is right for Lake Forest to make the moves necessary to renovate the amenities, including pools, tennis courts, clubs and other facilities.

The strongest results favor renovation of the marina and opening of the marina facilities to the whole upper Eastern Shore by making a connection with the city of Daphne to make the marina and yacht club a community facility.

As it stands, the residents of Daphne and the upper Eastern Shore have very limited access to the bayfront and practically no facilities such as those that the marina can provide. A planning group is examining how the bayfront can be opened up all the way from the south of the city of Daphne’s Bayfront pier to north of the marina, making a tremendous difference for the citizens of Daphne and surrounding communities.

The city is extremely interested in this plan and is willing to partner with Lake Forest and other waterfront landowners in developing the waterfront for all the citizens. The plan would include board walks along the edge of the bay for more than a mile; improvement of existing piers; and opening of the marina for boat storage in and out of the water.

Lake Forest marina already has some dry and wet storage and the potential for much more. The docks and piers have not been fully repaired since the hurricanes but can be restored at modest cost. The time seems right for a big change in the Daphne waterfront.

One key issue is dredging. The dredging permit has been held for three years and the Corps of Engineers is anxious to have the work done. A proper dredging operation would improve navigation and clear clogged channels and shoals and improve flow in D’Olive Bay and the Blakeley River.

A partnership between the city of Daphne and Lake Forest can bring about a major improvement and is in the interest of both parties.

The citizens would be quick to take advantage, as they have in all such improvements.

Hal Pierce

Daphne