Home Join/ Volunteer About Us History Photos Projects News Creek Critters Wildflower Calendar Links Contact Us Home The Friends of Bolin Creek is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the Bolin Creek corridor by working with the University of North Carolina, the towns of Carrboro and Chapel Hill and with Orange County. We would like to establish a perpetual nature park, and preserve the Bolin Creek Watershed. We envision multiple uses compatible with our preservation goals, including hiking, biking, birding and nature study. You can help by: Becoming a Member. Participating in activities such as creek walks and fundraisers. Volunteering time for fund-raising, creek watches, newsletter and web. Making a tax deductible donation. Or, to find out other ways of helping the Friends of Bolin Creek, Subscribe to our listserv Contact us Friends of Bolin Creek Receive Roses from Chapel Hill News From the Chapel Hill News, January 20, 2010: Roses to the Friends of Bolin Creek for starting a debate about whether a greenway through Carrboro should be paved. The Board of Aldermen hired a consultant to plan the greenway between Homestead Road and Estes Drive Extension. The consultant recommended a 10-foot wide concrete path. The town held workshops, but few attended. When word of the recommended paved path got out, people began objecting, which led to the aldermen's delay. The last two Sundays Dave Otto, vice chair of the Friends of Bolin Creek, and Julie McClintock, current chair, have presented opposing viewpoints on our editorial pages. Otto says a paved path will make the greenway accessible to people in wheelchairs and promote bike and pedestrian use. McClintock argues that paving will actually require a 30 foot swathe and that any bike route, especially one that might harm wildlife habitat, must be part of a larger study of transportation alternatives. Local government will next hold a public forum, which we hope people attend. In the meantime, thank you, Friends of Bolin Creek, for putting this discussion front and center. Information on Greenways Proposal In September 2008 the Town of Carrboro contracted with Greenways, Inc (GWI http://www.greenways.com/) to create a Conceptual Plan for the greenway. The goals of the greenway are outlined in the Greenways commission charter (http://www.ci.carrboro.nc.us/AdvBoards/Greenways/default.htm) and in the GWI report (http://www.greenways.com/bolin.html). Based on input from two public workshops, topography, hydrology, existing trail conditions, costs, and constraints, GWI constructed a Master Plan for the greenway. The recommended route was the existing OWASA roadway along Bolin Creek and the recommended surface was concrete. There were two other plans that were examined, but the 'Creekside' trail was the one that was recommended. This is still a recommendation and not a mandate. The conceptual plan was submitted to the Board of Alderman. The BoA, in a resolution on December 8 approved the construction of sections 1a, 1b and 2 and deferred action on phases 3 and 4. They approved the Town to begin construction on 1a, 1b and 2 using currently allocated funds. The Board of Alderman has asked that the other two proposed alignments be added to the report. As of January 20, 2010, they are not yet in the published report. We anticipate them being integrated shortly and will inform the membership when the updated documents are available. We encourage everyone to become well informed and to discuss with your friends and neighbors. Here is a sampling of articles/editorials in the recent Chapel Hill News issues. To pave, or not to pave? - It's unfortunate whenever a rift develops between two groups of people who share the same overall values and goals. Published: Jan. 24, 2010 2:00 AM. More... Don't pave greenway path - Seven years ago come May, Helen and I came to Carrboro and Chapel Hill on a hunch. Published: Jan. 24, 2010 2:00 AM. More... Your Letters - When UNC had an ecological assessment done of the Chapel Hill North Forest, the Bolin Creek corridor was classified as most suitable for conservation because "disturbance will compromise ecological integrity."http://www.chapelhillnews.com/images/spacer.gif Published: Jan. 24, 2010 2:00 AM. More... Paving would improve access - My dander went up when I read David A. Wohl's letter (CHN Jan. 20) re the Bolin Creek greenway. Published: Jan. 24, 2010 2:00 AM. More... Your Letters - The recent controversy over installation of a paved bike path by Bolin Creek seems a little beside the point. Published: Jan. 24, 2010 2:00 AM. More... Bolin Creek beautiful but far from pristine - We wish to present a different viewpoint and some additional information in response to the guest column by Julie McClintock ("The Case for Keeping Bolin Creek Natural," CHN Jan. 17) because of its inaccuracies. Published: Jan. 24, 2010 2:00 AM. More... Previous articles The Case for a Concrete Greenway Keep Bolin Creek Natural Sixth Annual Bolin Creek Festival Cancelled Due to Weather We regret the need to cancel the festival. Lesson learned: Next year there will be a back-up plan in case of rain! Thanks for your continued interest and support. Look forward to seeing you on the trails! Bolin Creek 2009 Annual Picnic On a lovely spring evening, Saturday, May 23, 2009, about three dozen Friends of Bolin Creek gathered on the idyllic Lloyd-Andrews Historic Farmstead to celebrate a very successful year and enjoy a splendid picnic. More... Our Streams Need You for Muddy Water Watch in Orange County! Click for more info. TOP

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