Planning Committee Part 2
Commissioner Mason ( who isn't on this committee) asks to speak to the
issue as it is in her district and she has received many calls. She
mentions that there was a lot of misinformation floating around and
that much needs to be clarified She then reads 5 points from a letter
that Steve ( Friends?) wrote to GM Schmidt and asks him to speak to the
points.
GM Schmidt's replies....
1) The ski trail will be moved 20 feet further from the fence but will
still be within the buffer
2) The area was cleared of buck-thorn and the ski trail is not for
biking
3) Plantings have been started ($2000 worth) but they will take time to
grow and fill the area
4) The MPRB agrees with the keeping the rest of the substantial buffer
area
5) The Friends of the Wildflower Garden will be notified of any and
all other projects in the area in the future
Commissioner Mason then suggests that the Friends, the Loppet folks and
MOCA all be part of the discussions of the new "trail overlay plan" as
all groups have demonstrated through previous contributions to the MPRB
system that they wish to preserve and protect the parks.
Commissioner Hauser ( who is on the committee) presents this idea as a
substitute motion that the staff should develop a preferred trail
overlay and include representatives from the Friends of the Wildflower
Garden, the Minneapolis Loppet and MOCA in the discussions.
Public Input on the Wildflower Garden begins.... (again at 1 1/2
minutes per person)
1. Steve Pundt, President Friends of the Wildflower Garden, The Friends
are concerned about the type of use allowed in the buffer, and is
concerned about invasive species within the fence.
2. Pam Winer (sp?) , VP of Friends and attending as a Bryn Mawr
representative. The Bryn Mawr Neighborhood Association has pass a
resolution the supports the buffer zone around the Garden/ Bird
Sanctuary. BMNA would also like to have been informed of what was
going on as the Garden falls within their boundaries.
3. Peter McKinney President of Minneapolis Off-road Cycling Association
(MOCA) He supports multi-use and applauds the recommendation for the
planning team for the trail overlay. Cyclists are not destructive
users and has found that real cycling trails prevent the use of
"non-approved" trails.
4. Bill ?, Nordic Ski Group brings up three points 1) access...
Theodore Wirth promoted use of the parks and the wildflower garden is
closed in the winter when the skiers would be present outside the
fence. 2) health of the forest ... XC skiers treasure the forest and
are not destructive users 3) Health of the population... XC skiing
promotes fitness and the connection to nature. If any action is taken
XC Skiing should be promoted
5. Bill O'Rielly trail steward to the new Wirth cycling system. The
cyclists are on the side of preserving the park and believe that by
having planned cycling trails the system will have fewer unplanned
trails and thus less erosion and damage to the park.
6. Constance Pepin has no trouble with XC skiing but the Loppet trail
is for Skate Skiing which is more harmful and should not be allowed
7. Maya Ellison as a teacher brings many to Eloise Butler. City kids
are unfamiliar with nature ( jokes about kids looking for bears at Theo
Wirth) and stresses that other than the parks nature is a 100 mile bus
trip away. She also mentions a book called Nature Deficit Disorder.
8. Jenny Harrington: Attended the walking tour of the site and felt
that the previous use of the park could be compared to a library, where
as opening the buffer to other uses would make it more like a fitness
center.
9. Sally Hunt of the Friends and Bryn Mawr, would like another site
to be found for the Loppet trail
10. Al Sedgewick, as a 78 year young XC skier does not feel his use of
the loppet trail would be considered high impact. The trail is
generally used by skiers such as himself and that the elite skiers use
it for 2 days and that can not be too damaging.
11. Eric Garrets State Rep for the Minnesota Mountain Bike Association.
Points out that the demo cycling project in With Park cost the MPRB
$0. That the trails are 18 inches wide as well as built to be
sustainable and that families use these trails. They would also not
need to come near the fence.
12. Joe Schmidt, is a XC skier and feels the trail where it is will be
too hilly and icy for the average skier.
13. Sean Shealy, MOCA trail steward, he is opposed to banning bikes
and would like to have the MPRB wait until the Wirth cycling project
has been around for a while to see the proof of their claims for low
impact and sustainable trails. He would like a chance to participate
in the "new " trail overlay committee and would like to see the XC
skiers use more sustainable trails.
14. Scott Thayer, President of MN Off-road Cyclists (MORC). 1/2 of
the state membership show addresses in Minneapolis and the group
provides many opportunities for underprivileged kids. They also do
trail reclamation. It is poorly designed or non approved trails that
are damaging to the wilderness.
15. Matt Moore, member of MORC and MOCA, welcomes the chance for more
dialog, opposes the exclusion of mountain bikes and stresses that the
1964 agreement was written before off-road cycling became a popular
sport
16. Jerry Balls. president of the Minnesota Chapter of Audubon, they
support the buffer, removal of the invasive species, hiking and
classical XC skiing.
17. Cory Brinkman, The Loppet course was designed as not just a race
course but for community use. This section of Wirth park is a special
place and helps create a continuous white space for winter activities.
18. Clare Wilson, City of Lakes Loppet, City of Lakes nordic Ski
Foundation. This particular trail was to connect Bryn Mawr School and
Anwatin School to the Wirth Woods for accessibility. This gives the
kids a chance to enjoy both nature and physical fitness during the
Minnesota winter.
19. Jeff Lee In this era easy solutions to problems are not available.
There is a need for a master plan that considers all of the issues,
the invasive species have been ignored for 15-20 years and all of the
groups need to be brought together to find a workable solution.
20. John Fuster Preserve nature and allow appropriate activities, for
XC skiing the trail must be at least 3 meters ( about 9 ft ) wide to
allow for proper grooming
21. Emily Anderson, supports the buffer zone, feels the original
planning for the ski trail was bad, would like to know if enforcement
of staying on the trails will be possible.
Next part we hear from the commissioners....
Liz Wielinski
Columbia Park
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