Can we please stop the deforestation?

I am a resident of the Park St. Claire development and enjoy the wooded forest west of our development bordering Salt Creek. My wife and I were mortified over the weekend to find a massive and ugly deforestation going on throughout that entire area. We have gone from a wooded forest to one of cut tree stubs and weeds.

The deforestation project at Spring Valley is to return the forest to historic, Illinois-appearing, fields; to plant new trees more in line with the historic look as well as to enable more grasses to grow than the forest would allow.

A few grave objections.

First, at a time that Schaumburg is dealing with deficits and raising taxes, who in their right mind decided to undertake such a project? I understand Conant students are doing most if not all of the deforestation as volunteers but we still need management to oversee their work, trucks and people to collect the trimmings, cost of new plantings and new trees, etc.

Second, when did this project get approval from the residents who would be most impacted by the 20-year-plus horizon required for the forestation to mature? Many Park St. Claire residents paid premiums to be able to look out their windows at a beautiful forest. Now for 20+ years, they will look out at a barren field, void of the forest they thought would be there for eternity. Schaumburg has well-regulated restrictions on tree cutting so no resident can cut a tree without permission. But Schaumburg can turn around and fell an entire forest of trees.

Isn't about time the entire Schaumburg political system stopped spending money like it is a God-given right on frivolous projects.

I would like someone to respond with answers if possible. If it were not too late in the deforestation project, I would be seeking an injunction in court to stop the careless destruction that is going on. At the very least, can you all PLEASE put a quick end to any more tree cutting in this area?

Timothy G. Kelly

Schaumburg