This could potentially be an extremely important meeting to attend. Here is the info and if you can please show up to support the trail.
Management plans are in process and trail systems in Pinckney and Waterloo S.R.A. are being assessed.Mountain bikers stand to gain, but could also lose out — you never know.
So, you need to show up and have your voice heard!
This is an extremely important meeting if you’d like to see new mountain bike trail in Pinckney and/or Waterloo S.R.A., AND is also important for you to vocalize the maintenance of trail you already have at Pinckney (i.e. the Potawatomi Trail).
Consider some of the following:
o Do you want year-round access to trail you rode in the Triple Trail Challenge? Many people have asked me if this is possible. Now is your time to express your feeling to the DNR.
o How would you like to have another loop trail system like the Poto, Island Lake, Highland, Fort Custer, Pontiac Lake, Yankee Springs, etc. at Waterloo Rec Area? Minutes NE of Jackson, less than a half hour from Lansing, potentially linkable to the Potawatomi. If you want “epic” trail in SE Michigan, here is your chance.
o What if, at this future key planning meeting for Pinckney-Waterloo trails, few mountain bikers showed up with lots of anti-mountain bikers showing up? How do you think that would fair for future trail access and development at these Areas?
The meeting is especially important to attend, because, as the notice below states, there have been two public input meetings in the process already. The first was supposed to be an open input session for mountain bikers, but the word never got out due to a communications snafu. As a result, few mountain bikers showed up. The second meeting was an open input session for equestrians, and was said to be well-attended.
[u]It is also important to attend because, the forthcoming MDNR Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) that is currently in draft form and in comment period gives mountain bikers the short shrift. [see ACTION ALERT!: Draft MDNR Plan Omits Mountain Biking in another thread on this Advocacy Forum]
So, mark this date on your calendars and underline it twice.
This meeting is a MUST ATTEND if you ride your mountain bike on trails in Southern Michigan.
Feel free to email me, or, post here if you have questions or concerns regarding any of the above, or need further clarification or explanation.
Meeting Details Follow:
……………………………………………………………
September 18, 2007
SUBJECT: Stakeholder Input Meeting on Trail Expansion at Waterloo
and Pinckney Recreation Areas
Dear Waterloo/Pinckney Recreation Area Stakeholder:
The Department of Natural Resources * Parks and Recreation Division
(PRD) will be holding a meeting on Tuesday, October 16th from
6:00pm to 8:00pm at the Washington Street Education Center * Main
Building Cafeteria for the purposes of understanding trail needs
and desires at Pinckney and Waterloo Recreation Areas and how they
interact with other uses of the Recreation Areas. Dr. Charles
Nelson of Michigan State University will be the moderator for this
meeting. Separate meetings have already been held with the
mountain bike/hiking organizations and the equestrian groups. This
third meeting will focus on the trail related strengths and
challenges of the areas and options to improve trail opportunities
considering the other uses of the areas.Concurrently, PRD is formulating a Management Zone Plan for
Waterloo and Pinckney Recreation Areas that will provide guidance
on trails, other recreational uses, recreational facilities, and
resource conservation. This ‘Draft’ Management Zone Plan is being
developed with input from all Divisions within the DNR and public
review. At a fourth public meeting (time/place to be announced)
this plan will be made available for stakeholder/public review and
comment.
The address for the October 16th meeting is the following:
Washington Street Education Center * 100 Building in the cafeteria
500 Washington Street
Chelsea, MI 48118
I strongly encourage both you and your membership to participate to
ensure a broad and comprehensive level of representation. Please
contact me at (517) 641-4903 ext. 227 if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Joe Strach, PRD District Planner
Rose Lake District Office
8562 East Stoll Road
East Lansing, MI 48823
_________________
—————————–
Jason Aric Jones
MMBA Advocacy Director
advocacydirector@mmba.org