A Trail for Our Town
1Dear Town Council,
My name is Marisol Vega, and I am in fourth grade at Pine Hollow Elementary School. An old railroad line runs through the middle of our town. Trains stopped using it many years ago, and now the tracks are covered with weeds. I think the town should turn the old line into a trail for walking and biking. I have three reasons for my opinion.
2First, a trail on the old line would be easy for almost everyone to use. Trains cannot climb steep hills, so railroad lines are built on land that is flat or slopes gently. That means the trail would have no steep hills to climb. People in wheelchairs, parents pushing strollers, and older people who walk with canes could all use it. The old line is also wide enough for two people to walk side by side while a bike rolls past.
3Second, the trail would give students a safer way to get to school. Right now, many students walk to school along Mill Road, which has no sidewalk. Last month, my class counted the cars that drove past our school on Mill Road in the ten minutes before the morning bell, and there were forty-two. The old line passes many homes on its way to the back of our school. On the trail, students could walk to school on a quiet path made for walkers and bikers.
4Third, a trail would help people enjoy nature. For almost a mile, the old line follows Cedar Creek. When my class took a walk near the creek this fall, we saw a heron standing in the water, two turtles resting on a log, and patches of purple wildflowers. A trail would let many more people see these sights up close.
5A trail on the old railroad line would be easy to use, safe for students, and a great place to enjoy nature. Many towns across the country have already turned old railroad lines into trails. I hope our town will be next. Please vote yes on the trail plan at your next meeting.
Sincerely,
Marisol Vega