Members of the Hyde Park community have been battling the city government over the materials in the retaining wall of Promontory Point for as long as most current College students can remember. When it seemed in these past few months that an agreement was about to be reached, community activists rejected the plans, sending both themselves and the city back to their respective drawing boards.

While many may be losing patience with the Save The Point activists’ stalling of the project, the Maroon applauds the Hyde Parkers for not giving up the fight for something that is such an integral part of the community. Standing up to the Daley machine is a difficult task, and few have the courage. At the very least, one has to marvel at the group’s zeal.

But the fact remains that the city does not need more predictable horizontal plains. Promontory Point’s natural beauty offers a respite from the flat, concrete city. Relaxing on a weather-beaten chunk of limestone and listening to the water lap under the piled boulders is infinitely better than sitting on just another slab of concrete.

The city has failed to offer any substantial arguments against the Hyde Park group’s proposals, which have been cheaper and more aesthetically pleasing. There is no shortage of Indiana limestone that could be used along the lakefront in lieu of the concrete-and-steel revetments planned by the city.

It appears the city has thrown up its hands in disgust over the argument and resigned to focus its efforts and funding elsewhere. While this rebuff may seem unfortunate, perhaps it isn’t; it gives the issue back to those whose foremost concern is the best interest of the Point and the community it serves.