This teamwork ensured a strong community fabric. Residents and visitors
alike look to Vermont as a place where these neighborly values still
stand. Reducing the issue to government "steamrolling over individual
property rights" diminishes the debate to an "us vs. them" mentality
that fails to serve property owners and the common good.
The path in question extends from Brook Road to the Warren School and
crosses through a couple properties, including our own. The town of
Warren, residents, and parents have tried to work collaboratively with
all property owners affected by the right of way.
Many thoughtful solutions have been proposed to address legitimate
concerns (litter, trespassing, dogs) expressed by path landowners. It
would be far preferable to work together to ensure resolution. Alas,
all proposals that reasonably address issues of trail abuse have been
rejected. With no room for collaboration, the issue is now,
regrettably, being forced into the hands of lawyers and the courts.
In light of increased traffic and speeding concerns in the village, a
group of dedicated parents and residents -- referenced by Mr. Jones as
the "secret Warren School political society" -- has spent countless
hours working with the town to make the village a safer place for
children, residents and visitors alike. The town path has for decades
provided a safe, alternative route to and from school grounds.
If permission was granted to the town to access this right of way more
than a century ago, wouldn't our village forebearers wish those deeds
to be respected? Wouldn't they want us to continue the tradition of
neighborly access? Perhaps taking a lesson from the past may best serve
our community's interests in the future.
April Smith lives in Warren.
