Thumbs up to the City of Biddeford for investing in the Williams Court neighborhood and breaking ground on a new park there last weekend. The quarter-acre area was formerly the site of three apartment buildings that the city acquired and demolished with federal stimulus funds.

The park will include a community garden, a playscape and a sitting area. Residents of the area said the park will provide much needed space for locals to socialize and enjoy the outdoors.

Thumbs down to the Department of Environmental Protection for shutting down plans to dredge Little River in Old Orchard Beach. DEP officials said the town would be fined $138,000 if it wanted to do the project. Rather than saying if the town moves forward it will impose fines, officials should work with the town to find a solution for cleaning out the river. In many instances, work is completed and fines are paid after the fact, but since the DEP knows the town’s plans, it should do what it can to help find a solution to allow the town to complete the work while protecting the environment.

Thumbs up to the Community Bicycle Center’s team who participated in the American Lung Association’s “Trek Across Maine” this spring. The 180-mile trek, which takes place every June on Fathers’ Day weekend, was completed by 39 people from the team, and they raised more than $175,000 for the American Lung Association of New England. The American Lung Association of New England awarded the CBC with the 2010 Trek Across Maine Lifetime Achievement Award.

Thumbs up to the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency and the agency’s York Task Force for cracking down on drug trafficking in the area. Drug agents and several police officers from the Wells, Biddeford and Sanford police departments have arrested five people for alleged trafficking in cocaine, crack and oxycodone recently. MDEA Supervisor Steve Borst said last week several drug investigations are ongoing, and more arrests are likely in the coming weeks. It is important for law enforcement agencies to work together and continue to get drug dealers out of our communities.

Thumbs up to Regional School Unit 21 for continuing health tests for staff and faculty at Middle School of the Kennebunks. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health conducted another round of health testing last week after two prior test last school year after more than 60 staff members drafted a letter to the school district complaining that their health was being negatively affected by the building’s air quality. Despite the fact that no conclusive evidence has been found to substantiate the claims, the district is being diligent in making sure there are no air quality or mold issues at the school in the future by complying with NIOSH recommendations.

— Thumbnails is a Monday feature of the Journal Tribune’s opinion pages. If you would like to respond, please write the Reader’s Forum via e-mail at jtcommunity@journaltribune.com or by dropping your letter off at our Biddeford or Sanford offices.