Every election year we who live in Chapel Hill and/or Carrboro hear what a socially progressive community we live in. And year after year, those candidates who claim ownership of progressive values are elected into office.

So how did we arrive at such a heated debate over the recommendation for paving a Bolin Creek Greenway between Estes and Homestead?

Bolin Creek is a community treasure, and all members of this community have the right to enjoy its beauty as well as its functionality. Paving the Chapel Hill section has not detracted from its natural beauty, nor did it lead to the greenway becoming a high-volume commuter corridor. Walking along the greenway, you can still hear and see owls, hawks, and a variety of songbirds, despite the pavement. There are still wildflowers, amphibians, and all manner of other wildlife. And people walk and run in peace while others commute, including those who live with some type of mobility handicap.

Carrboro prides itself for its progressive thinking. Surely town leaders must recognize that a public greenway should be accessible to all members of the community. It's time to move past the debate over paving and embrace the concept of accessibility.

Terri Buckner

Chapel Hill