A lively debate has arisen about a future greenway along Bolin Creek between Estes Drive and Homestead Road. In 2008 Carrboro contracted with Greenways Inc (GWI) to create a conceptual plan for the greenway. Information was assembled on the topography, hydrology, trail conditions and constraints of the creek corridor. In November 2009, GWI presented the master plan to the Greenways Commission and recommended a 10-foot wide concrete pathway within the existing OWASA easement along the creek.

Before the master plan was completed, word of a "paved" greenway began to circulate, spawning a movement to aggressively oppose the recommended route and paved surface. Dickson Phillips, leader of the movement, wrote a letter to Mayor Chilton: "The town should get its purposes straight," they said. "Don't do harm to our high-value natural area under the guise of illusory environmental benefits."

On Dec. 8, GWI formally presented the greenway master plan to the aldermen. In response to intense vocal opposition, the board voted to delay approval of all but two short segments of the proposed greenway. The board also requested that two other possible routes be added to the master plan and that the Friends of Bolin Creek help the town organize a meeting to solicit further public input.

Why are people so adamantly opposed to a paved greenway?

Despite two workshops last year, people who live in neighborhoods along the creek and the community of hikers, bikers, dog-walkers and runners who regularly use the OWASA roadway were stunned by the thought of a paved pathway. Although extensively publicized, the workshops were sparsely attended.

In order to obtain more extensive public input on the proposed greenway, a meeting of major stakeholders and users including residents, UNC (which owns 60 percent of the creek corridor between Estes Drive and Homestead Road), OWASA, runner and mountain biker groups and the Chapel Hill- Carrboro School system will be organized by the Town of Carrboro with the assistance of the Greenways Commission and Friends of Bolin Creek.

The movement opposing a paved greenway along Bolin Creek is well-organized, articulate and has so far dominated the debate. However, there are many good reasons why a paved creekside greenway should be considered. Here are some supporting arguments.

The primary objection to the GWI plan seems to be harm of pavement to the natural environment. However, the "natural environment" that the proposed greenway will replace is the existing OWASA maintenance road which is badly eroded, deeply rutted and a quagmire following heavy rain. A concrete surface would actually stabilize erosion of the roadway. To simply leave the existing "natural" surface is not an acceptable solution. No surface of soil, crushed stone or Chapel Hill gravel in the riparian corridor will withstand periodic flooding.

Another argument for pavement is handicapped accessibility. Wheelchairs, walkers, even crutches cannot be used on the existing muddy and rutted OWASA road. Should the elderly and handicapped be denied access to one of the most beautiful areas in Carrboro? Is it appropriate to reserve this place for those privileged to live in adjacent neighborhoods or physically able to negotiate the rugged terrain?

Greenways also serve as transportation links, an important role in a community that prides itself as pedestrian and bicycle friendly. UNC is interested in the Bolin Creek Greenway as an off-road link between old and new campuses. Parents are interested in the greenway as an off-road link between neighborhoods and schools. The proposed Bolin Creek Greenway is but one piece of a much larger network of greenways and bikeways. The availability of paved, all-weather greenways and bikeways will encourage people to use non-motorized vehicles to commute to school, work and shopping centers, thus reducing the carbon footprint of the local community.

Eventually the Chapel Hill and Carrboro Greenways along Bolin Creek will connect at Estes Drive and residents of Lake Hogan Farms will someday be able to ride off-road all the way to University Mall!

Peter White, director of the N.C. Botanical Garden, mused recently how wonderful it would be to bike from his home on Tripp Farm Road to the Community Center in Chapel Hill, on to Meadowmont and over to his office at the Botanical Gardens. That is not an idle dream if the recommended greenway along Bolin Creek is built, but it will never be realized if nay-sayers succeed in derailing the plan!