The Enid News and Eagle, Enid, OK

Opinion

Discussion

August 21, 2008

Trails system is a must for Enid’s future

The Enid city commission, parks board and residents need to make a trails system in Enid happen.

Just this past week, it was announced Oklahoma has the eighth highest obesity rate in the nation. Type 2 diabetes is becoming a state and national health problem.

People need to be moving more.

Higher fuel prices can be a catalyst to getting people to think of other ways to get where they’re going, such as walking or biking. Plus, many people are interested in running, skating and other aerobic exercises.

Enid needs to be progressive in this area, and that means it’s time to develop a quality trails system that connects people to businesses, schools and parks. Employers looking to expand and employees looking for jobs rate quality of life right behind good public education as a huge factor in choosing to live and do business in a community. This isn’t a luxury item anymore. This is a necessity.

Trails systems are expensive. It will take a combination of public and private funding to get a quality trails system going in Enid. It’s also a project that can’t be done in a year or two. It will take several years to get the system started and expand it at a reasonable rate.

The city must apply for the grants through the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, and other grants also must be pursued. Private funding will be needed, as will funds set aside from the city. The city has hired a firm to develop a trails plan for the community, and this group has a good track record of working well with small communities.

It’s time to embrace this idea and start working on a way to make it happen.

Text Only
Opinion
Featured Ads
AP Video
Sister Says She Reported Brother in Patz Killing Patz Suspect's Sister: I Went to Police in 1980s Diplomatic Expulsions Follow Fresh Syria Report 15 Dead in Northern Italy's 5.8-magnitude Quake Angry Birds Spreading Their Wings Witness Describes Fla. Face-chewing Attack Man Falls Off Crane, Dies After Police Standoff Russia Condemns Ally Syria Over Massacre of 108 Dairy Farm Uses Chiropractor to Help Cows Unexpected Smog in Pristine National Parks Air Canada Plane Makes Emergency Landing New Ticks Spread Across Southeast, Diseases Rise Bring Your Own Tech Programs Charge Up Students Pope's Butler Vows to Help Vatican Investigation Mother of Allegedly Abused Girl Denies Claims Raw Video: 19 Dead in Qatar Shopping Mall Fire Service Dogs Help Wash. Soldiers Battling PTSD Raw Video: Heckler Bursts in on Blair Testimony Japan Farmers Plant, Seek Radiation-free Rice
NDN Video
Couple doesn’t let tropical storm ruin their big day Tori Bares Baby Bump in Monokini Even Fla. Police Shocked by Face-Mauling Attack Letterman on Family Life Post-Scandal Evans: Serena in shock Pregnant Reese Wears LBD Volcano covers Colombian cities in ash Meet the Crew and Good Ship 'Prometheus' Los Angeles Bar Bans Bachelorettes Hamster Plays Dead Beyonce Shows Off 60 Pound Weight Loss at Concert Drunk Women Breaking Into Houses: A New Trend? LeAnn Rimes Rocks Short Shorts Raw Video: Cop Shoots Man Eating Another's Face Gordon Ramsay Carried Off Field Man Dies Getting Lap Dance Kim Kardashian Claims Items Stolen from Her Luggage Bear cools off in Calif. family's pool Ep. 3: Chopped Desserts Air Force dad surprises family at baseball game
Seasonal Content
House Ads