When I arrived at Perry Phillips Lake, in southeast Columbia, yesterday morning, I was heartened by a group of high school students who were picking up trash along the shoreline. Then I saw the new devastation.
Once a scenic farm lake, surrounded by meadows and woodlands, Perry Phillips Lake has become a suburban park, hemmed in by apartment complexes, retail shops and commercial buildings. Now, below the dam, a large swath of forest has been cleared for more "development."
The loss of open space has increased dramatically in Columbia over the past few years, primarily for residential construction. While growth and development may fuel the economy, they are threatening the health of natural ecosystems. Any deforestation is tragic, whether it occurs in the Tropics or in Columbia, Missouri.
See also: A Warning at Phillips Lake
