Dear City of Fairmont

I am sorry. When I moved her nearly three and a half years ago and heard your claim of having so many biking and walking paths, I laughed. Well, actually, I cried. I grew up in the Twin Cities, you see. I spent most of my recreation time on actual bike, Rollerblading, and running paths. Ones made for those purposes, with smooth blacktop surfaces surrounding lakes and other nice-to-look at things, paths that connect. I was excited when I saw the lakes and heard there were paths, and dismayed when I couldn't find them. I mean, there is a dirt groove around one portion of a lake near my house, but for blading? No. 

So I lamented. I laughed at what you considered paths. I cried for I could no longer blade the way I love to do.

After the winter of my discontent, when the sunshine and lack of snow absolutely screamed at me to get outside, my husband grumbled when I asked him to get the bikes out of the shed. I strapped on my blades, told my knees and wrists to expect to be broken and ventured out.

After careful planning and use of three years of gathered data, I devised a path that was relatively smooth-ish. I was able to blade almost satisfactorily, and found a route in which less than half was mangled, broken, fall-inducing concrete. I got an almost good workout and arrived to work without my car, although I did blade briefly on Downtown Plaza in order to get into the office. I have heard I am not supposed to, but how can you call yourself a community that encourages biking and blading if you discourage getting to work that way.

Anyway, I am sorry for not believing you. This is a beautiful city, and with a little planning, I can blade here.