Woods

Laurel Park Dynamic Strike rallies in Miracle Wood Dynamic Strike came from behind to win the $80,000 Miracle Wood Stakes on Saturday at Laurel Park. Ridden by Forrest Boyce and trained by Richard Small , the lightly raced son of Smart Strike stalked the pace before closing five-wide down the stretch, just inside of Where's Dominic, and battled that horse to the 1/16th pole before edging away to win by a length. Lunar Rock rallied up the rail to take third. Post-time favorite Vegas No Show saved ground early but could finish no better than fifth.

Laurel Park Vegas No Show favored in Miracle Wood Stakes Saturday's $125,000 Miracle Wood Stakes at Laurel Park has attracted eight 3-year-olds, including three stakes winners. Vegas No Show has been made the 7-5 morning line favorite in the one-mile test. The son of Hard Spun has tested stakes company in his last five outings, with a win in the Dover Stakes at Delaware Park and a runner-up finish in the Nashua Stakes (Grade 2) at Aqueduct. Trained by Kelly Breen, Vegas No Show posted a bullet workout at Belmont Park at the end of January and will carry Jeremy Rose for the first time.

Why is Howard Hughes Corp. remaining silent on the new Symphony Woods proposal?  Previously the Columbia Association staff requested a delay on implementing the Planning Board approved plan for Symphony Woods so that they "could work collaboratively with Howard County and Howard Hughes. " CA staff is asking the CA Board to adopt this new plan without any estimate of its cost.  Will it be $10 million, $100 million or $500 million? How much of the cost will fall on the backs of the CA lien payers?

During the 1960s I worked, as an architect-planner, with Jim Rouse, Bill Finley and Mort Hoppenfeld creating the plan for Columbia. In the Town Center land use plan what we now call Symphony Woods was designated as a permanent public open space Town Center Park. Now as a 45-year involved resident I urge the community, CA and the County to seriously consider and act on the following: The Symphony Woods CA Park Plan must be implemented as approved by CA and Howard County. If and when the McCall concept finally shakes out, its location east of the Music Pavilion is compatible with and depends on the adjacent CA Park Plan.

I read the Jan. 31 edition of the Flier and found some eye-opening information. Michael McCall's Inner Arbor Plan is called new: however, it is almost identical to the General Growth Properties Plan for the Columbia Association's Symphony Woods open space/parkland property that was approved by the County Council in 2010 legislation. The orientation and entry point to Symphony Woods seem to be the only major changes. Is it surprising then that the three Council members representing Columbia indicated they love this "new" plan?

Councilmembers Ball and Sigaty provide excellent reasons why we should be in favor of a plan for improving Symphony Woods ("CA's Inner Arbor Plan is 'bold vision' for Symphony Woods," Letters, Jan. 31). Unfortunately, the plan they favor fails to provide almost all of the elements to which they refer, while the currently approved plan for Symphony Woods does. They mention the need for "walkability" in our new downtown. Yet the "Inner Arbor Plan" (IAP) removes three points of walkable connection from the woods across LPP to the rest of downtown that are provided in the Paumier Plan and requires patrons to drive to a parking structure and walk up to 1,000 feet on a steep slope to get to the amenities it provides.

It appears that much of the skepticism with the Symphony Woods Inner Arbor plan, brought to light by Columbia resident Michael McCall and introduced by CA, is more about process and hurt feelings than the actual plan. Utilizing a theme creatively embracing the arts, the Inner Arbor plan is a big concept in a town where development is based on careful small steps often kept in check by a vocal minority. While issues may be within some facets of the new plan as currently envisioned, the largeness of the concept has created the conversation needed.  Much of that opinion however appears to be about the process, CA and prior plans instead of this plan's potential to help invigorate a downtown currently ill-defined by a large mall and a sleepy lakefront.  One has to wonder how this plan would be received if it were championed and submitted by another organization. Is much of the gnashing of teeth more to do with opinions of CA and the process?

New York. Chicago. Boston. Washington, D.C. What all of these places have in common is a renowned public park; a place where residents and visitors can enjoy sprawling grass for picnics and relaxation, signature features including water fountains and sculpture to marvel over, amphitheaters to host local and famous musicians alike all in a setting of natural beauty. In 2010, the County Council approved a 30-year plan for the redevelopment of downtown Columbia that includes the creation of a "cultural park where the landscape becomes a setting for arts, cultural and civic uses" in Symphony Woods.

Columbia Association's proposal to develop a Symphony Woods "Arts District" as a regional attraction goes far beyond the association's legitimate scope of interest as a homeowners association. CA's charter states that it is the purpose of CA, "To organize and operate a civic organization … which shall be organized and operated exclusively for the promotion of the common good and social welfare of the people of the community of Columbia and its...