The other side

A letter to the editor from the Oct 30 Times-News:

To the editor: I want to express my gratitude to the county commissioners for their support and approval of the purchase of land in Flat Rock for a soccer complex and park.

The need for dedicated soccer fields has been increasing over the years, and I am glad that the commissioners have recognized that need and enabled the construction of a recreation facility that will benefit not only those who play soccer, but every member of the community through health and fitness opportunities as well as increased county revenue and visibility.

Laura M. Rice
Hendersonville

And received from Cam Boyd:

"I am very much in favor of the park, walking trails, playgrounds as proposed, I think it will add value to the property near by and a new demention [sic] to Flat Rock."

Because of how this has been handled by the Henderson County Board of Commissioners, it seems appears as though two groups are opposed to each other--homeowners/residents vs soccer/park enthusiasts. This is not the case, and this contention did not need to happen.

Most homeowners/residents are upset at the lack of governmental transparency and the spending of taxpayer dollars without due diligence. Most soccer supporters want adequate soccer fields for play. These goals are not mutually exclusive. If the county board had held public hearings on all available options, including fixing existing fields and looking at property farther away from residential houses, then everyone would have had an opportunity to express their opinions and the county would have had time to consider public safety issues, like traffic access, etc.

As for the park issue, there is a vast difference between a park with walking trails, playgrounds, etc., and a soccer complex with a few picnic tables and perimeter path. What the county has proposed is not a park, it is a soccer complex with a veneer in an attempt to make it more acceptable.