"High stakes seen in Dracula Park" is an innovative article for me. I fought disasterous circumstances against carelessness in southern Texas since, forever it seems, resulting in an arson fire of my home and all my belongings. ...all I wanted was peace and preservation of life on my land. For two years, everyday, I watched my land and life on it be killed one at a time.

Reading your article brought back devastating memories of my last days at Waterwood Developments, Bexar County, where death and disgust reigns. Without trees and forests, it is the end. Furthermore, "If I had the money, I'd hire the people to keep their natural beauty; for someday, I know I'll be able to travel so I can experience the walk of paths of ancestors who made the land and feel "their" earth as it may have been."

If Sighisoara, Romania, wants a park, let it have it; but for God's sake, don't destroy centuries of beautful construction already there. There are parks all over this country alone which have closed down for lack of business. Let's salvage some of those, renew, and send them as gifts to this little town to be placed in the town square.

My idea would be to refurbish and (with possible expansion) what buildings the town has turning some into inns. By reservation, surely they will have enough guests to keep them company throughout the year. Surely there are paths and trails historically marked (but not necessary) which visitors can use for walking and horseback riding. I would not change the natural habitat for any reason except to remove what man have littered. This would be a place to visit! I'd also be interested in establishing tours of "Dracula" inclusive of Dracula's Castle and linking the forest as a main attraction.

Killing these 250 acres of virgin land brings my heart to a standstill and to any plans I may seek, had I the money. Being in Texas I've had opportunities to visit amusement parks all my life and here it is a normal everyday kind of thing; and the idea of a country ready to destroy their heritage in order to bring tourists really puts me beside myself with worry.

Question in mind is, "If I wanted to visit Romania, would I go there to visit an amusement park or a country of wonderful natural habitat?" My answer is, "I'd like to visit a country of wonderful natural habitat preserved for centuries!"

I've visited Six Flags Over Texas, Astro World, San Marcos Aquarina Springs (now a chemical waste disaster), Disney World in Florida, and Sea World in San Antonio. I truely have no "wonderful" lasting memories of any! I've even experienced employment with one of these theme parks, Sea World, and I left after only a couple of months in total disillusionment and terror.

I found the park to be the product of "butchery" of acres and acres of land and animals in order to "enhance" the lives of the people. The exact opposite occurred. Even as I worked hired laborers were endlessly chasing animals for kill; and instead of planting for keeps, sometimes on a weekly basis, gardens of entire sections of the park would be replanted with seedlings! Obviously, all I experienced was mass waste and death of natural resources.

I've been a gardener for over a decade now and in memory, through the eyes of ignorance knowing nothing of the growth process and the wonders it brings, the growth process was as miraculous as the grown, is still today and always will be!

Unfortunately, there are many who have no belief in such natural wonders.