Letter: Heritage Farm an asset

I moved to Vancouver with my wife three years ago. When I found the Heritage Farm, I was enthralled to know that such a resource was available so close to home. The partnership of WSU, Clark County and the city toward creation and preservation of parks and open spaces is unique and helps to define this broader community. We need these wide-open spaces. The Heritage Farm is unique because it is close to a major population center, it offers amazing training, food production, experimentation, community building and hands-on opportunities, it is a breath of fresh air in a commercial/industrial area. It sets us apart from our neighbor to the south, Portland. I have taken many classes at the Heritage Farm and I often proudly walk the grounds with visitors to Vancouver. I hope the county councilors will look beyond simply the financial side to the incredible importance of open spaces such as the Heritage Farm. There may be room to utilize some of the property without taking away from the amazing value the Heritage Farm provides. I wish our councilors the strength to see the whole picture and to preserve the Heritage Farm.