Ron and Dorothy Strasser
Brian (my S&M teammate),
Thank you for posting this. I knew some new opportunities were coming up with regard to FP, but this helps make it more clear.
I urge anyone who rides in Forest Park or other city parks to help out with a positive letter to noted officials. Many of you (and you know who you are) have talked to me in negative terms for a long time about... nothing good taking place for off road riding in Forest Park. Well as Tom mentioned there are people who are trying to work to make it better for riders. They need our support. We have people in the Parks dept. and a City Council open to Forest Park (and other areas) having more access to off road riding. This does include trails. I have done so little to help with this process, the least I can do is let the people on his list know that I ride in Forest Park and think we need more access there for riders. My main reason is we are citizens deserving of the right to use the park and we should not "have to" drive miles and miles to another out of town place to access single track riding. We pay taxes just like hikers and if a trail is designed properly (which they will be) we would do no more harm than a hiker. Please. Don't just hang back, do nothing and then gripe about no good riding in Forest Park. Lets support what this new energized organization (NWTA) is doing. It benefits any rider using FP. Thanks for considering using your time to help. Your time is the best thing you can give.
ron
----- Original Message -----
From: Brian Baumann
To: obra@list.obra.org
Sent: Saturday, October 17, 2009 5:21 PM
Subject: [OBRA Chat] ATTN: Forest Park Users....
and OBRA supporters of off-road cycling,
We need your help on an urgent issue. Over the last few months, the Northwest Trail Alliance and our strategic partners have made great strides towards the goal of increasing trail riding opportunities in the City ofPortland, including Forest Park.
A task force was formed by the Portland Parks & Recreation Bureau(PPR) with the specific charge of identifying options for increasing the amount of single track open to bicyclists in Forest Park by the summer of 2010. Members of the NWTA board and other cycling advocates secured a number of positions on that committee and are working hard to see that this mission fulfilled. This process is already underway and will continue over the winter. However, certain committee members oppose our efforts and are attempting to slow down or even stall the process.
We need your help! Our public officials need to hear from the off-road cycling community during this critical juncture.
Can you please write or call your elected representatives today expressing your support for the Forest Park Initiatives? Following is contact information for Mayor Sam Adams and other Portland City Commissioners, along with some talking points that you can include in your letter. Even a one sentence thank you for starting the committee and considering the needs of off road cyclists would be helpful
If you only send one letter, please address Nick Fish.
Portland Mayor Sam Adams
503-823-4120
samadams(at)ci.portland.or.us
Portland Parks Commissioner Nick Fish
503-823-3589
nick(at)ci.portland.or.us
Portland Parks Director Zari Santner
503-823-7529
pkzari(at)ci.portland.or.us
Commissioner Amanda Fritz
Amanda(at)ci.portland.or.us
Commissioner Randy Leonard
rleonard(at)ci.portland.or.us
Commissioner Dan Saltzman
dan(at)ci.portland.or.us
Please consider the following points in your letter:
* We appreciate their efforts to elevate the level of discourse about off-road cycling in the City of Portland
* Portland needs more off-road cycling opportunities
* Off-road cyclists are strong advocates for the environment and care deeply about the health of Forest Park
* Off-road cycling is a healthy, human powered activity that can co-exist with other park uses
* Off-road cycling facilities can be designed and managed in a way that preserves precious environmental resources within Forest Park, and within the guidelines of the 1995 Forest Park Management Plan
* Off-road cyclists are a significant and energetic constituency that can bring additional resources to the on-going management and preservation of Forest Park
I would appreciate if you would cc: this me on your letters: tom(at)nw-trail.org
Thank you for your help in our cause!.
Tom Archer
Director of Advocacy
Northwest Trail Alliance
www.nw-trail.org
Are you a member yet?
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