Safety should be top priority at parks

In regard to the article about the impact of the new pesticide policy at Lynnwood parks (“Lynnwood pesticide ban draws interest,” July 21):

The parks department has done little or nothing that I have seen to draw the attention of people who actually use the parks to the new pesticide policies, and also doesn’t appear to have done much to enlist the help of volunteers to pull weeds to help compensate for the limitations in funding for park maintenance.

It disturbed me that the only two “average park goers” cited in the article were advocating the use of pesticides. As a mother of a 4-year-old son, I am very concerned about the use in public places of dangerous chemicals that have links to childhood cancers and other ailments. I have been very happy as a close neighbor of Spruce Park, which was designated as a pesticide-free park, to know that I can take my son there and worry less that he is being exposed to toxic chemicals. I would rather live with a few dandelions than know that children may get sick and possibly die for the privilege of a more flawless, chemically maintained lawn.

Lynnwood