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Letter: Don’t pave it all

Posted on February 18, 2010 by Staff

In her editorial (“Greenway should be for all to use,” 2/11/10) Debbie L. Nichols paints those who want to preserve and protect Bolin Creek as — in no special order — heartless elitists whose agility is only matched by our callousness to the disabled, a cartel of landed gentry with a hidden agenda to make the forest our own private recreation area, a band of opportunists blind and neglectful to social justice and, showing no mercy, Republicans (ouch).

I certainly understand why providing improved access along Bolin Creek has merit. This is true already for the creek valley’s less-steep sections. On the other hand, I know that not all public lands in our country, be they raging rivers or snowy peaks, can be made fully accessible. My personal view is that the benefits of keeping one part of Bolin Forest unpaved outweigh the benefits of paving it. Does this make me a swindler looking to wrap my selfish aims in the guise of environmental concern? Hardly.

I am a physician and many of those I care for have significant disabilities. I am also a middle-aged cyclist who knows that one day I too may become unable to traverse down to the creek and stroll along its banks. But, just as when I stood with friends and neighbors fighting the Orange County airport, I appreciate the value of stewardship of nature – even if it comes at the expense of what may be good for some people.

Being opposed to transecting this section of the forest is not about limiting access to the wilderness. It is about how to preserve a special and small corner of our community – one which continues to be enjoyed by many. The greenway was not originally proposed to remedy the inaccessibility of these woods to the physically disabled, and although that would be a positive byproduct of a concrete path, unlike Ms. Nichols, I feel that alone should not be the factor which trumps all others when deciding if it should be constructed.

David A. Wohl
Carrboro

1 thought on “Letter: Don’t pave it all”

  1. Debbie L. Nichols says:
    February 21, 2010 at 10:37 am

    I am sorry that I was misquoted. I never said that anyone was “heartless elitists”, etc., etc., etc. I was misquoted in the Friends of Bolin Creek headline “Paving would improve access”, when I was actually advocating COMPROMISE. I have never advocated for paving except for sidewalks in the city for wheelchairs. The paper that put that headline over my letter made a correction that was not put up on your website.
    I am not a physician but I live with a disability 24/7, most of my friends are disabled and my stepmother who raised me was disabled, so I am somewhat of an expert on the discrimination factor. So please give me a little credit. I also have been a lifelong environmental advocate. So I have been promoting COMPROMISE that would allow the disabled access.
    I have never said to pave the greenway. If you want to reach me, I will show you alternatives. Thank you very much for some consideration in this area.

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