As a taxpayer in Hadley, a senior and married to a Vietnam-era veteran, I can’t understand the huge issue the American Legion is making over the overflow parking area (“Legion sues in bid to block senior center,” April 12).
The town has been generous enough to let the Legion use it on occasion, when necessary. The town has also let others use it during events.
If the Legion would create handicapped parking in its parking area, it would have parking spaces available there. But on occasions when there is overflow, the able-bodied people could walk the 200 feet from the new parking area. The senior center has willingly offered this publicly.
Without utilizing the current town spot used occasionally by the Legion, the seniors will not get their senior center near the center of town and the money spent on plans goes for naught. Seniors go to the center every day, while the Legion is not in need of daily overflow parking.
The Hadley Senior Center is a lifeline for many of our seniors. It provides them with education on important topics such as benefits available, exercise classes to keep them healthy and, above all, companionship. To take that away from them would be appalling.
All this loss for Hadley seniors because some do not want to walk 200 feet from overflow parking?
Lynne Edwards
Hadley