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News -
Admin Updates
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Written by Gene Roberts
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It has been some time since I have supplied an update where things stand with the future of trail development. It has been a very busy time for HPT leadership!
As you'll recall HPT worked cooperatively over a two year period with the Mississippi Valley Conservancy (MVC), the City of La Crosse, Myrick Hixon ECO Park, and the DNR to develop the La Crosse Bluffland Protection Plan, a plan to join together to protect the community's blufflands for natural, scenic, and recreational purposes. Parcels of land within the LBPP area were purchased with money from the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship fund.
On April 17, 2009...
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News -
Admin Updates
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Written by Gene Roberts
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Feedback obtained from the DNR indicates that they received a significant response from the cycling community regarding the proposed Administrative Rule NR 52.
The DNR received "nearly 150 email comments, 50 letters, and several hours of testimony". This information will be summarized into a final package that will go to the Natural Resources Board for approval prior to submission to the Legislature.
Of the responses received four themes were identified one of which was that "the biking community would like to have mountain biking and trail biking added as a 6th nature based activity". This is significant! Our message may have been misdirected but we have achieved our intended goal to be heard and get the attention of the DNR. By having bicycling added as a recognized nature-based outdoor based activity HPT will be able to continue it's mission of developing shared-use trails.
HPT leadership will continue to monitor this issue and plan to make public comment at the Natural Resources Board December 8th meeting in Madison. We can not afford to be satisfied and you must be prepared to supply additional comments when needed. Together we will make a difference for cyclist in the La Crosse area and throughout Wisconsin!
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News -
Admin Updates
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Written by Gene Roberts
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If you haven't read the information from Gene (below) or taken it seriously, you may want to... This sign has been posted on an HPT built trail! And that is just the start!
This is a real threat to trail use and trail building on land that YOU paid for, with your State and City tax money.
We need your help!
Get involved, write letters, donate and join HPT today!
The Department of Natural Resources is in the process of developing Administrative Rule NR 52 which establishes a process for the department to restrict nature-based outdoor activities considered for participation on lands purchased with funds from the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship. This rule will have significant ramifications on the Human Powered Trails and the future development of trails in the State of Wisconsin.
HPT believes that bicycling should be identified as one of the nature-based outdoor activities defined by statute and Administrative Rule NR 51. The DNR is accepting public comments regarding the NR 52 proposal. Members of HPT leadership have attended public sessions to address our concerns and opinion. What are needed are comments to be submitted from the cycling community addressing our opinion that cycling be added to the list of allowable nature-based outdoor activities and opposition to NR 52.
Time is running out! Public comments will only be accepted through October 30, 2009
Comments may be submitted via U.S. mail or electronically to:
Douglas Haag
Bureau of Facilities and Lands
P.O. Box 7921
Madison, WI 53707
or
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
I have attached the NR 52 public notice, a copy of supportive comments and a sample letter with suggested language addressing the opinion of HPT. Please act today to ensure that the lands purchased with your tax dollars are open to use by cyclists across the state of Wisconsin.
PUBLIC NOTICE.PDF
SUPPORTIVE COMMENTS.PDF
SAMPLE LETTER.PDF
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uman Powered Trails, Inc. is a non-profit organization whose mission is: “To develop and maintain first class sustainable and environmentally correct, human-powered, shared use trails for the La Crosse, WI region."
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