On June 29, 2005, the Municipality of Heerenveen and the TIJD Foundation signed a letter of intent regarding the development of the Le Roy Garden, the ecocathedral at Europalaan and Kennedylaan in Heerenveen-Midden, in which the TIJD Foundation will oversee the ecocathedral process for 100 (one hundred!) years. Below you will find the complete text of this declaration, which serves as a blueprint for possible other locations in the Netherlands.
Louis le Roy
Louis Le Roy signs the letter of intent. The municipality of Heerenveen, hereinafter referred to as the municipality
and
the TIJD Foundation, hereinafter referred to as the Foundation
correspond to the following statement:
General
At the end of the 1960s, the Le Roy Garden on Kennedylaan and Europalaan was officially opened. The garden was created based on ideas by Louis le Roy.
The municipality and the foundation note that in recent years the Le Roy Garden has not been managed in accordance with Louis le Roy's ideas. The development of a highly complex structure through collaboration between natural and creative human processes, or the ecocathedral process, has virtually come to a standstill.
The municipality implements natural green management. To this end, it has been established in policy that natural management is carried out in certain zones in the town of Heerenveen, within the Nature Connection Zone. The Le Roy Garden is part of this Nature Connection Zone. The municipality and the foundation aim to ensure that the Le Roy Garden remains part of the Nature Connection Zone in the future.
The municipality and the foundation acknowledge that the Le Roy Garden has the potential to become a valuable part of the city, and especially a valuable part of the living environment of the local residents.
The municipality and the foundation express the intention to create the preconditions to breathe new life into the ecocathedral process.
The municipality and the foundation endorse the emergence of an ecocathedral process.
- in collaboration between natural and creative processes,
- without an image or plan of a predefined end result in space,
- without a predefined end result in time,
- with maximum utilization of free human energy,
- with maximum utilization of the craftsmanship and experience of laypeople and professionals.
The municipality and the foundation state that they will adhere to the following principles in doing so:
Room
The agreements apply to the current Le Roy garden from Koornbeursweg to Oranje Nassaulaan, including the footbridge over Oranje Nassaulaan and the public space on the south side of Oranje Nassaulaan up to the ditch.
The area will remain freely accessible.
Should opportunities arise in the future to expand the area with adjacent strips, further agreements will be made between the foundation and the municipality regarding this, which may not conflict with this covenant.
The municipality and the foundation aim to develop a major ecological structure at the city level, of which the Le Roy Garden is a part.
Time
The municipality and the foundation express the intention that the process initiated again will be promoted for at least 100 years, or at least will not be disrupted. The foundation will adopt the process for at least 100 years, and the municipality will respect the process for at least 100 years. Thus, the municipality will take measures to ensure that this declaration of intent (or any agreement replacing it) is brought to the attention of the new municipal council at the beginning of each council term.
Role of the foundation
The foundation will provide the “master builder,” who will assume executive leadership. His task will be to direct the creative input of individuals in such a way that justice is done to the essence of interaction between human creative energy and ecological processes in space and time, in accordance with the philosophy of Louis Le Roy, taking into account the fact that the area is situated in a residential neighborhood and can/may be used for other purposes where possible.
Role of the municipality
Together with the foundation, the municipality is responsible for the responsible maintenance of the Le Roy Garden. The municipality makes a reward available for the foundation's contribution, which is determined annually. Where possible, the municipality will carry out management and maintenance work in consultation with the master builder. The municipality will cooperate positively to encourage residents of the municipality to participate in building and working on the Le Roy Garden and other grounds managed by the foundation.
The municipality is ultimately responsible for the creation and continuation of preconditions necessary for the ecocathedral process.
Ensuring the continuity of the ecocathedral process
The municipality and the foundation wish to safeguard continuity by making the following agreements:
- As often as necessary, but at least once a year, consultations take place between the municipality and the foundation—at both the administrative and executive levels (master builder, municipality, and local residents)—regarding the progress of the ecocathedral process. The Foundation takes the initiative for these consultations.
- The foundation and the municipality share the responsibility to involve local residents in the ecocathedral process within the available possibilities.
- The municipality has a supervisory role with regard to safety.
- The municipality will always take the content of the letter of intent into account in new plan developments in the area indicated in the appendix and inform the foundation in a timely manner about possible developments.
Heerenveen, June 29, 2005
