[HiHoEskimo]

Upper Rock Creek Trail Corridor Plan Hearing, Including a Bicycle Challenge Area (Montgomery County, MD)

This project includes:

- Multi-Use natural surface trails including a 12 mile natural surface trail which connects Lake Needwood, Lake Frank, and the Agricultural History Farm Park in the Mid-County Region of Montgomery County Maryland.
- A Mountain Bike Challenge area including a couple of pump tracks and trails with various technical trail features such as log rides and drops.
- Paved trail connecting Olney to the Rock Creek paved trail.

Date: September 11th 2008
Location: Planning Board Auditorium, 8787 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring, MD 20910
Time: 7:30pm

If you have the time to speak at the hearing it would be extremely helpful. To sign up call: 301-495-4600

Pubic input on this project is essential. This project will not happen without it. If you can't make the hearing and want to see this project become reality, send a email in support of the project to the Montgomery County Planning Board. Email to: MCP-Chairman@mncppc-mc.org In the email include your name and address.

Parks Upper Rock Creek link:
http://www.mcparkandplanning.org/parks/ppsd/parktrails/trail_planning/upper_rockcreek/URCreek_index.shtm

PDF Copy of the Plan:
http://www.mcparkandplanning.org/parks/ppsd/parktrails/trail_planning/upper_rockcreek/documents/urcreek_tcp_draft-11sept2008web.pdf

Joe Fritsch
Upper Rock Creek Trail Liaison
http://www.more-mtb.org

 

[HiHoEskimo]

Following are some ideas for points to make. Feel free to use any but please use your own wording/writing style. Feel free to add any more ideas!

Upper Rock Creek Talking Points
Main Points
- Mention how far/long you spend driving to XC trails/skills trails/paved trails and how this project will reduce the time spent in the car (polluting) and how the location will allow you to ride more.
- If you will be able to access these trails/park from you home without a car. MAKE SURE YOU SAY IT!
- The Trails & Challenge Area are needed now. Please approve the Park Staff Upper Rock Creek Trail Corridor Plan!

Challenge Area
- Pump tracks are good for MTB and BMX bicycles
- Pump tracks are good for all skill levels (little kids pedal, experienced riders pump)
- Desire for Technical Trail Features (TTFs) growing
- TTFs will be built with different skill options allowing for riders to progress at their own speed
- MTB Challenge Areas/Skills Parks/MTB Parks are popping up all over the Country.
- Provide a place to improve skills close to home, eg. Time to get a ride in after work.
- Will be built under the guidance of IMBA (International Mountain Bike Association)

Natural Surface trails
- Will increase official nature surface trails from 8.9 miles to 30.1 (27.4 open to bicycles)
- Currently only 3.5miles of natural surface trails are open to bicycles (Blue Mash) in the area
- Will replace miles of unsustainable people’s choice trails with sustainable trails
- Provide more trail access to citizens closer to where they live.
- Easy access from the Rock Creek Paved trail and ICC paved trail
- Trail alignment and building will be approved by Montgomery County Park Staff.
- More citizens can skip the car and RIDE to the trail!

Paved Trail
- Add a safe method of recreation and commuting from Olney area to the Upper Rock Creek Trail
- Currently no safe route out of Olney via bicycle

General Benefits
- Promote more cycling
- Provide more recreation and commuting opportunities
- Promote a healthy life style for body, mind and planet.

 

[drumbum540]

so, whats happening? they are building trails? that is within driving distance for me, and it sounds like fun, with the challenge course. let me know please!

 

[HiHoEskimo]

The meeting went very well. Both the Park staff and Planning Board are interested in seeing the plan come together quickly. Quite a change from the past few years. By the end of the year the plan should be approved. The challenge area has a slight problem only being parking and the possible cost of building an access road. I post more when when it happens.

 

[Sir_Crackien]

HOLY CRAP!! good to hear. if you need help build i will be there sched. willing

 

[drumbum540]

okay, definitely let me know! the challenge area sounds awesome.