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In all the years I have been in the GCC, I have always tried to keep political issues separate from the joy and fun of bike riding. However the Hogtown Greenway referendum may affect the future of bike trails in Gainesville for years to come.
It's a bit confusing, but please vote "no" on the anti-paving amendment. A "no" vote will allow the City to pave bike trails in city owned parks and property. A "yes" vote may prohibit the City from building off-street paved bike trails.
If you are a registered voter in the City of Gainesville, you can vote. If you aren't registered, you can register to vote until Feb. 14.
Urge all your friends to vote "no." The opponents are organized and all of them will be voting. If we don't show up at the polls, we may lose.
If you or your friends aren't sure about bike trails, go visit the Gainesville-Hawthorne Rail Trail. One hour on the Rail Trail will usually convince almost anyone that family-oriented bike trails are wonderful recreational facilities.
As the election approaches, we will hear more and more anti-paving and anti-Greenway rhetoric from the Greenway opponents. Please take all information provided by the Greenway opponents with a big grain of salt. In the past, they have spread much misinformation, including exaggerated cost estimates; exaggerated design details; and have raised crime and safety issues to almost hysterical levels. I have tried to be objective throughout this process and I will continue to do so. Please call me if you have any questions about the Greenway, and I will be happy to discuss the pros and cons of the Greenway.
One last word, try not to take this issue personally. The Greenway opponents are extremely passionate because they feel their homes are threatened, so we must be patient and understanding if their tactics and rhetoric are a bit extreme. Rather than snarl back at them, we should listen empathetically and remind them that what we want is a family oriented recreational bike trail. This is not a matter or life and death, but a development issue that involves paving a bike trail on city property for all citizens to enjoy.
Peace. Chandler Otis
A historical note: We lost the vote. The impact on recreational facilities in Gainesville is not yet known.
The never-ending saga of the Hogtown Greenway may come to a conclusion with an election on March 17. An amendment to the City Charter will be on the ballot, and a "yes" vote will prohibit the city from paving the Hogtown Greenway.
The Greenspace Preservation Association gathered signatures to put the anti-paving initiative on the ballot. The amendment, as written, would prohibit the City of Gainesville from using paving in any city property zoned conservation or recreation (parks and greenspaces). This would, of course, kill the Greenway, and may also prohibit the city from repairing or building sidewalks, bike trails, basketball courts, tennis courts or any other facilities that might require paving.
The Greenspace Preservation Association realized that this amendment, as written, was vague and ambiguous, so they rewrote it but were unable to gather enough signatures to get the revised version on the ballot.
To put it simply, a "yes" vote will stop the city from building any bike trails in its parks, a "no" vote will allow the City to proceed with the building of the Hogtown Greenway.
In related news on the Greenway, The St. Johns Water Management District issued a permit to allow the City to proceed with construction of the first portion of the Greenway. The first section of Greenway will run through the woods near Westside Park, from intersection of NW 8th Avenue and NW 31st Drive to the Loblolly Nature Center at NW 5th Ave. and NW 34th Street. Construction of this 0.6 mile segment is unlikely to begin before the election.
The Hogtown Greenway as envisioned will be a seven-mile long paved trail for hiking, biking and roller skating. When completed it will run from NW 39th Ave. & NW 13th Street across Gainesville to Kannappaha Botanical Gardens. The Greenway has been a very hot political issue, with citizens who live along the intended route of the trail opposing the trail at every step of the permitting and construction process.
For more information on the Hogtown Greenway, please call Chandler Otis at 377-1728 (home) or 376-6729 (work).