15 Years Later...

This evening, I took my bike for a spin and, for the first time, followed the greenbelt trail south and east across Fairview Drive alongside several neighborhoods through Lake Forrest all the way to Millers Mill Road. If you haven't been on this new Horse Fork section, I highly encourage it. Riding along seeing other bikers, walkers and runners practing their own version of healthcare reform—getting fit—was encouraging to me.

At the same time, I couldn't help but to think back to 15 years ago when the city landed the initial federal grant to build the first section of the greenbelt trail. "It's wasteful," "only a select few will use it," "what do we need that for?" were some of the nicer comments seen in the local newspaper and voiced around town. I must admit that I was a bit skeptical at the time. Would residents of the "fast food capital of the world" take the time to use such a trail?

Of course, today we know it's a big success. It's widely used—even by the guy I saw this evening smoking a cigarette while walking his dog. Developers have built and continue to build homes along it; young couples, families and empty nesters want to live near it. I'm proud that it runs through my east side neighborhood.

I also couldn't help but think that 15 years from now this community might look back and smile at the criticism about the redevelopment of downtown Owensboro. Yes, there's many differences but like the greenbelt, proponents and the politicians who approved it see the downtown plan as an investment in the future. If it turns out as well as the greenbelt, I think many will be smiling.