Amazed at nature's rejvenation of Raceway Woods

To see how nature rejuvenates from practically nothing is an amazing sight. I'm talking about Raceway Woods in Carpentersville and how, after 30-plus years, nature had reclaimed it after the obstacle man had put in its path.

Seeing the dirt, grass, trees, wildlife and much more take over leaves a lasting impression on any person alive. Many of us have visited these woods with school children, friends, or just to walk around and feel peace within ourselves. It was calm and undisturbed by man's machines for so long that nature took over and was on its way to recreating what God had intended.

But, as always, it seems that man has had another turn for the worse -- ruining what nature had created, of course. For the past week or so, bulldozers, rollers and dump trucks have been roaming around, ripping up what was left of the first racetrack, and have paved over the dirt to make a new path -- a path that shows you where you are supposed to go; a path that captivates your mind so you don't wander off and get lost; a path that will go over the ravine and lead to the other side of the track.

They will rebuild a bridge that goes over the stream and connects the track. They will take the adventure out of the woods -- not to mention that they are spending over $260,000 on this obscene project.

The Dundee Township Web site states, "Take Only Pictures, Leave Only Footprints, Kill Only Time." Now, if that were true, why would there be trucks, leaving more than just footprints there at this same moment in time? Doesn't make sense, does it? We are ruining what nature reclaimed all over again, taking away 30 years of work, for something that isn't even needed.

The last remnants of the track gave the woods their charm, showed how everything that man makes can be reclaimed and become beautiful again -- something that the majority of people can agree gave life to the woods. The original track left a great hike, and helped people get connected with nature once again.

After reading from multiple sites, including www.meadowdalehomesteadraceway.com, that many local citizens have never even visited or known that Raceway Woods existed, it shows that people are oblivious to what has been happening around them. The township doesn't realize that with this new paved path, it has essentially annihilated what nature had adjusted to -- to re-establish its dominance over man's creation.

When will the tyranny of man end? When will we change our ways and let nature repair the damage that has been done? From what has been witnessed at Raceway, apparently never.

Samantha Sutalski is a Dundee Township resident.