Getting to Kessler Park a challenge for residents

Kessler Mountain Regional Park is wonderful — beautifully designed, well-equipped and sited in an inspiring location. Only one thing is missing: a bus. As a regional park, Kessler Park is intended to serve all Fayetteville residents, not just those who live nearby, and not just those who have a car available when they want to go. There are elderly people who have given up driving; people with disabilities that prevent them from driving; one-car families whose car is being used by one family member when others would like to go to the park; and people who have no car at all. Many of them would like to use the park, if only they could get there. The problem is especially acute for kids. Many kids’ team sports have been moved to Kessler. How can the kids get there? They can’t drive themselves. Even if the family has a car, it may not be available at the time the team is meeting, or there may not be an adult who can take the time to drive the kid to the park. There’s a bike path that goes to the park, but it’s a long ride — too far for many kids. This problem has made things difficult for my own family, and I can’t imagine we’re the only ones. Taking a taxi might be a solution for an occasional visit, but two weekly taxi fares — coming and going — would strain the budget of many families. A bus would go a long way toward solving a problem — especially a Saturday morning bus that runs when sports teams are meeting for practice and games. Only when the issue of access is addressed will we truly able to say that we have a regional park for all the citizens of Fayetteville. JACOB ADLER Fayetteville