I read Jerry Robinson's column about giving tourists a reason to visit our community. At first I was hopeful I would find a progressive idea. As I read I became more disappointed.

I thought Jerry would come to the conclusion that Burien should become an arts Mecca- see the BIAS (Burien Interim Arts Space). Or possibly he would come to the forefront to build a usable 200- 250-seat performing arts center that would pull tourists from the airport to see Burien's performing arts. Or maybe Jerry would lead the charge to make Burien a showboat for intelligent sustainable architecture. Maybe Burien could throw off Californication and become the center for a truly Pacific Northwest look.

All of these are good ideas. All are progressive ideas. All would build on the strengths of Burien and its special location near the major intersection of I-5 and 405, with unique access to the seemingly unlimited supply of possible tourists passing through the airport.
Instead, Jerry's idea is to cut down trees. Now there's a green idea. Cut down the trees that make Dottie Harper Park so interesting and contemplative. This is the last vestige of what Burien could look like if the City were not anti-tree.

Look at 1st Avenue in Normandy Park: A pleasant tree lined Boulevard. After a multi-million dollar makeover, in Burien 1st Avenue is an expanse of asphalt and concrete without trees, completely uninviting and devoid of charm.

After Jerry cuts down the trees that make Dottie Harper Park so very special, his next idea is to put in a polluting mini-train circa the B&I Circus Store. (Jerry left out a replacement for Ivan the gorilla, at least for now.) To replace the grandeur of the trees in Dottie Harper Park with the noise and pollution of a train ostensibly for kids and tourists, a train that would circumnavigate the tiny park in just a few minutes, taking people nowhere, is a very bad idea.

Jerry's goal is admirable. Burien needs tourists. To get tourists Burien needs a hotel and more bed-and-breakfasts. It needs more parks and open spaces. Look at how much Town Square is being used, even without the retail space or many of the nearby condos being sold. Mostly what Burien needs are the arts, plenty of the arts. People will travel to see visual art and to enjoy performing art.
I read the studies. Arts tourism, even during this economic downturn is growing. "According to the 2007 American for the Arts report Arts and Economic Prosperity III the key lessons learned is that Cities and Counties that invest in the arts reap the additional benefits of jobs, economic growth, and quality of life that positions those areas to compete in our 21st Century creative economy." The cover story, Harnessing the power of the Arts: Capitalizing on the Economic Power of the Creative Industry, ICMA Public Management, Oct. 2008, Volume 90, Number 9.

If Burien wants to be part of the 21st Century creative economy, Burien needs public art. It needs private art. It needs room for the performing arts.
Most of the performing arts organizations located in Burien perform in Renton at the Carco Theatre, a 300-seat facility. Burien Little Theatre is an exception to this rule, producing live theater at what is now the "old" Burien Community Center for the last 29 seasons.
Burien Little Theatre surveys show that 82.1 percent of its patrons eat before or after a performance. Every Burien performing arts organization that performs in Renton, because Burien has no suitable space, provides jobs, taxes and tourists to Renton.
Jerry, I urge you to throw your full support behind supporting the arts in Burien, leaving a legacy of clean creative industries that draw tourists and businesses like flies to honey, instead of promoting cutting down trees in one of Burien's most special parks to make room for a noisy polluting railroad to nowhere.

Eric Dickman
Burien