To the editor:

Lawrence used to be one of the prettiest towns in this part of the country.

The trees and flowers were beautifully maintained. The lot next to the Eldridge Hotel was a lovely arbor with wisteria vines hanging from the pergolas. It was something you might see in Greece or Italy. It was never developed but would have been a wonderful place for sipping a glass of wine or having an outdoor musical group. It is now an ugly parking lot, largely vacant.

Westar is contributing to the devastation by cutting down the old, beautiful trees in our parks and on our streets.

If Lawrence looked like it used to look, maybe the people would come to downtown residential spaces and new businesses and customers would follow.