Final Report on Memorial Bird Blind

Gwen Berry

This is the last installment of the Jake Jakabosky Memorial Bird Blind saga. The bird blind – a small bird-watching enclosure – was to have been built on High Prairie Fire District property overlooking the neighboring pond, as a gift to the High Prairie community. Jake was an avid birder, a dedicated volunteer firefighter/first-responder, and a person who valued and supported the High Prairie community. The project seemed an ideal way to both honor all those things and continue giving to the community that had meant so much to him.

Unfortunately, the project has run into insurmountable obstacles, including excessive requirements by the county, committed opposition from the HPCC Board of Directors, rescinding of the project’s approval by the Fire Commissioners, and clear indications that neither the HPCC Board nor the Fire Commissioners would support any version of it in the future. The final blow came when the new owners of the pond wrote to say they would consider the bird blind an invasion of their privacy. 

So that’s that.

I’m disappointed by all the things that have worked to stymie what seemed so perfect a memorial, but it’s not the only way to honor Jake’s memory. I am thinking about other ways of creating a meaningful memorial. Ideas are welcome.

I want to thank everyone who supported the idea of the Memorial Bird Blind. A special appreciation goes to architect Rick Carlson, who volunteered his time, skills, and experience to develop the bird blind design and begin coordinating with the county. And I want to extend a heartfelt thank-you to everyone who has offered condolences, concern, memories and friendship over the months since I lost Jake. It has meant a lot to me.

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