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I know most of these letters are from folks up in arms about something. I’ve been guilty of that myself in the past. But I wanted to take the time and thank the Town of Farmville for everything they’ve done and look to be planning to do with the splashpad. You had three generations of the Xavier family using it multiple times this season and, youngest to oldest, I can say everyone had a great time. Reading about the planned bathrooms and changing areas, I’d say that’s another step in the right direction. 

But the main reason I write this is to encourage both the town and county, as well as some of our neighboring areas, to pursue more things like this. It’s time for all of us to move forward, to build new things and come up with new ideas, instead of just grumbling. When the elementary is done, that’ll be something else I guarantee people will step back and be impressed with. New construction, new businesses, new projects have a way of driving an area forward. They spark excitement, they spark change and they bring people in. And after all, what’s the alternative? To sit and grumble about the way things used to be? To pitch fits because things are changing? That’s what things do. The way Farmville looks now isn’t the same as it was back in 2000. The way it looked in 2000 wasn’t the same as back in 1971. You can say the same about pieces of Prince Edward County. 

How many people will take a day trip over to visit Farmville, because of the splashpad? How many will go grab lunch on a summer weekend with their kids and grandkids, then go have fun in the water? Things like this are good for the community, even if you don’t use it, because it brings in more people and in turn, more potential customers for everyone from restaurants to shops. Hopefully we can see more things like this pop up in the months and years to come. 

Paul Xavier
Prince Edward