Bike Paths and Parks

   Once again this issue rears its head on the Mathews County political landscape.  While these ideas might not be completely bad if implemented in the proper areas of the county, they definitely are detrimental to the Courthouse area of Mathews. 

    Mathews Courthouse area has always been the main hub for business to take place within the county.  Even our treasured Market Day's Event was born out of that fact.  Saturdays were the time in which all the local farmers, fishermen, and craftsmen came to town to sell their products ...Market Day was all about commerce, just as the present day event is too.   So, considering these facts, it begs the question as to "Why should we promote projects that will prove detrimental to the existing businesses and hinder the formation of future businesses?"

      I am not opposed to Mathews County having a Park or even having bike paths in certain areas of the county.  But, before we move forward on a new park, maybe we should do something about our current public areas. Our beaches, for one, could use some attention.  Bethel Beach is washing away at an alarming rate. Bethel Beach is one of our disappearing natural attractions.  It is a place that people can and do come to sit, relax, and soak up the natural beauty our County has to offer. Our public docks are in dismal state of disrepair. The county owns an old marina on the East River in the Bohannon area, that we have not done anything to improve.  Mathews County has many properties like these that we are not maintaining currently, so again why do we need to build a new park when we don't even take care of our existing public properties? 

     Bike Paths ... I have to concede that having bike paths in the rural areas of the county does make sense.  But, when one takes an honest look at this idea, the costs of implementation compared to the return the county may see in the investment, the bike path idea no longer is a viable project.

     If we want to truly improve our courthouse area and return it to the vibrant hub of commerce it once was, we need our local government to remove the restrictions placed on potential businesses in that area.  We need to have projects that will improve the available parking and traffic flow.  If there is one thing that hinders business investment and growth in Mathews County, it is the fact that parking is limited and past projects have created traffic flow restrictions. These two problems create a environment that deters people from visiting our local businesses.

     If our local government were to truly create a pro-business environment in the Courthouse area, the benefits for the county would be incredible.  The new businesses would create jobs for our citizens, they would increase the revenue in the county's treasury, and that would allow our local government the financial means in which to repair/upgrade our current public properties we own.  But, if we stay the current course and limit business growth at every turn, we can expect our courthouse area to continue its slow death.  Isn't that a wonderful picture ...bike paths and parks that everyone drives past while on their way to Gloucester to buy the goods then need.