In Defense of Four Seasons Boulevard

July 12, 2004

Every time planners, committee members, elected officials, editorial writers and newcomers want to make a point about “urban blight”, congestion, and ugly inefficient highways…they hold their noses and reluctantly spit out the words “Four Seasons Boulevard”. To THEM…Four Seasons Boulevard is what NOT to do when planning for future transportation and economic growth and development.

All the recent debate over Upward Road..and how to do it..is a good example. All those who had bright ideas mumbled and grumbled that WHATEVER we do..we CAN’T let Upward Road become like Four Seasons Boulevard. The fact IS…Four Seasons Boulevard was a BLESSING for this community in the beginning and it STILL is a functioning, successful “work in progress”.

Those of us who have been around for a while remember WELL the days..when Seventh Avenue East, the Chimney Rock Highway, or Highway 64—whatEVER you called it—was the ONLY way into town. We spent most of our time waiting for the trains to cross. Many of us had friends or family DIE in ambulances, waiting for the trains, trying to get them to the hospital. We saw homes burn and crimes happen…while good ole Southern Railroad trains had the crossings occupied. And HOW would all the traffic off an increasingly busy I-26 have EVER been funneled into town..had it NOT been for Four Seasons Boulevard and all its lanes?

Thankfully, some visionary TRUE public servants saw the need, dreamed the dream, and BUILT Four Seasons Boulevard..and made it a literal GATEWAY into our growing and inviting community…where firetrucks and ambulances CAN get through and get around, and where traffic CAN get into and out of businesses along the way.

As for Upward Road…the bright idea people favor fewer lanes, grassy medians, trees and without a doubt, day lilies everywhere. The reality IS…grassy medians, trees and day lilies pump precious LITTLE into our local economy. They complain about all the fast food places (which, by the way, provide necessary jobs for a LOT of people), signs, new businesses and traffic on Four Seasons Boulevard…but this is a BIG engine..an engine that helps keep our local economy running and keeps yours and my taxes DOWN.

It’s not perfect, the traffic is a hassle sometimes…but it’s PROGRESS. And for Hendersonville, Four Seasons Boulevard has meant GOOD progress. The boulevard..and its name..have even given our community a LOT of its current identity and it’s an identity we can all be proud of.

As we witness the debate and decision over Upward Road…without a doubt, we’ll miss the vision, the wisdom, the courage and the SMARTS of those who gave birth to Four Seasons Boulevard. For in spite of what some all-knowing newcomers, self-appointed traffic wizards, and naturalists would have you believe…Four Seasons Boulevard was a GOOD idea..an idea that’s working for us all NOW and one that WILL be working for a long time to come.

We hope that SOMEHOW..future generations will see whatEVER is done with Upward Road…working just as well.