Dear Sir:

My husband and I were in Ballard this weekend visiting old friends. They took us on a tour of some of the many recent community development initiatives in Ballard - including your gorgeous new library and the restoration of the old industrial and warehousing district.

What particularly caught our attention was the renovation of the triangular park boarding Market and Leary Streets. Hearing that the new artwork has caused some consternation within your community, we wanted to offer our two-cents worth: "We like it!" In a time when so many of our beautiful and historic Northwest communities are being transformed into dreary, homogenous commercial experiences, it is wonderful to see that Ballard is both incorporating unique and whimsical art and preserving important historic references in your public spaces.

Joan Mahler

Portland, Oregon