State should decide Rt. 53 land's future

I have several comments with regard to the June 3 article written by Marni Pyke titled, "Now what to do with land set aside for Route 53 extension?"

I like the suggestions that leave the right of way land with the state to decide what to do with it. Since state money was used to purchase the property and the property is not being used as originally intended, then the state should be able to sell the land for the highest price possible and return the monies to the state treasury (we all know the state could use the money).

Another good option for the state was the possibility of leaving some or all the land for wildlife (that portion of the land would remain with the state as a permanent wildlife sanctuary.)

Finally, I do not agree with the suggestions the Lake County Forest Preserve District obtain the property for new forest preserves or that Lake County Department of Transportation obtaining the property for bikeway trails. The forest preserve website points out that currently Lake County is the second-largest forest preserve district in terms of forest preserve acreage in Illinois (Cook County is first; however, it is much larger than Lake in total county acreage). Also, Lake County already has more bicycle paths than any other county in the Chicago area at 550 miles (combined between trails and bikeways).

Lake County residents do not need the increased taxes that additional forest preserves and bikeways would entail to initially build and then permanently maintain when the county is already in excellent position with what we have in place.

Wesley Rouse

Round Lake