To the editor:

After reading the front page of the Journal-World on June 30 about the Wal-Mart plan to build a new retail store, I was encouraged to look through my files for previous news articles dealing with the future size of our city.

I found an editorial dated April 19, 2005, entitled “Walkable city,” which encouraged citizens to do more walking. The author recommended that city officials make an effort to promote more grocery stores in the downtown area.

I grew up in a small town in Kansas and we could walk to all retail stores. I believe citizens of Lawrence would be more healthy by doing more walking to retail stores. Perhaps citizens should encourage their politicians to be more active with this problem.

Lester C. Marsh,

Lawrence