The decision to convert a portion of the floodplain in Jenkins Township into a large recreation site is wise. Nature owns the floodplain and, despite man’s best efforts to build levees and hold back rising rivers, flooding will occur again someday.

Wyoming Valley experienced the devastation of Tropical Storm Agnes in June, 1972 and there have been other floods since, not as widespread but as harmful and painful as Agnes to those affected. One such flood was Tropical Storm Lee in September, 2011.

Most of the affected homeowners in the River Road neighborhood of Port Blanchard, Jenkins Township, applied for available home buyouts. These families have been relocating to higher ground. Now, the floodplain must be put to new uses and recreation is a sound choice.

A township advisory committee will be formed to weigh options and work with the township supervisors. Meanwhile, the township is responsible for the land and grass-cutting is being done.

The township likely will be eligible for grants to create a park and install recreation amenities. This again is wise use of public funds. Soccer fields, baseball and softball fields, a walking/hiking trail following the Susquehanna River…all have been touted as possibilities and all make sense.

What will not happen in the future is a 1972-style federal outlay of funds. We should not expect millions or billions when the next major flood disaster hits. That is why it is vital that land use decisions take into account the probabilities of flooding in the Wyoming Valley. Even open spaces or potential open spaces in “protected’’ communities should be evaluated before spending public or private funds. In effect, any major expenditure now is a gamble. The flood that hits the Wyoming Valley may not come for 50 or 100 years or more, but it will impact everyone one day.

Sometimes, giving Mother Nature some leeway is far less expensive and stressful than trying to defeat a rising river, losing a valiant struggle and then rebuilding to set the stage for a repetition of the disaster.

Jenkins Township is taking a wise, common-sense route.