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Athens Bicycle Club Meeting
Athens
Public Library, Nov. 12, 2003
Present: Brian Wallace, Tracy Kitts, Bob West, Ben Applebee, Tina
Hall, Aaron Burke, Jeremy Lavelle, Adam Tiffany, Meredith Erlewine,
Malcolm Idleman, Jim Schulz, Peter Kotses, Randy Wachter, Chip
Krieg, Mac Stricklen, Jim Henahan
1. Ohio State Parks Presentation
Randy Wachter introduced special guest Jim Henahan, Community
Partnerships Section Manager from the Ohio Division of Parks office
in Columbus. Mr. Henahan presented some information about Ohio
State Parks Friends Groups, which are volunteer-organized and run
nonprofit organizations that benefit state parks. Mr. Wachter and
Mr. Henahan would like to assist with the formation of a Friends
Group for the Burr Oak Region, focusing on Forked Run, Burr Oak
and Strouds Run State Park. There are already about 25 Friends
Groups up and running in the state of Ohio. Groups work with park
managers to set priorities, and then the groups raise money to
build shelterhouses, trails, and parking lots, as well as hold
special events, because state funds can no longer cover these activities.
Fundraising activities include bake and coffee sales, special events,
etc. Mr. Wachter and Mr. Henahan explained that they’ll be
reaching out to businesses, individuals, the chamber of commerce,
and the convention and visitors bureau to try to get a Friends
Group going, but they wanted to bring it up with the Athens Bicycle
Club first because they perceive our members to be the most actively
involved with the park system in this area of the state. Friends
Groups usually file for 501(c)(3) nonprofit status, and most have
been successful in securing a local attorney or accountant to volunteer
to do this paperwork. Mr. Wachter mentioned some possible things
a Friends Group could work on in this region: disk golf course
at Strouds; playground equipment; bridges on trails; bike trails
at Strouds.
Athens Bicycle Club members agreed to consider the proposal and
respond at a later date.
2. Wayne National Park Update
Aaron Burke suggested that Tracy Kitts forward the letter he sent
to Wayne National Forest on the club’s behalf requesting
access to the Wildcat Trail to a new administrator at the park.
Mr. Kitts agreed to do so.
3. Lake Hope State Park Update
Malcolm Idleman provided the following update on trailwork at
Lake Hope State Park:
· Mr. Idleman and other ABC members have been working on
extending Wildcat trail and expect to have a 2.5-mile out-and-back
trail complete by Thanksgiving, working from the Grouse Point end.
·
Park managers have requested a reroute of the Bobcat trail near
the cliff overhang, and ABC likely will do that.
·
Park managers spoke with Mr. Idleman about rerouting Copperhead
so that it does not intersect the gravel road at any point. There
have been two near-collisions with vehicles. This also would make
the trails less visible to 4-wheelers. The club will consider options
for achieving this.
·
Club members agreed to set a work day for December 13 at Lake Hope
State Park. Meet at the Sidewinder trailhead at 10 a.m. or at Athens
Bicycle at 9:15 to carpool.
·
Club members agreed to set a work day for January 24 at Strouds
Run State Park. Meeting spots TBA.
4. International Mountain Bicycling Association Patrol.
Mr. Kitts reminded club members that if they are certified in
CPR and First Aid from the American Red Cross they are eligible
to sign up as members of the IMBA Mountain Bike Patrol. Information
is available at www.imba.com.
5. Bike/Nonmotorized Transportation Advocacy
Ben Applebee expressed an interest in doing some local advocacy
for nonmotorized transportation. He mentioned that there are no
bike lanes, no bike routes, etc., in Athens, and this is something
he’d like to bring to the fore in terms of local planning.
Peter Kotses suggested that Mr. Applebee contact club member Tom
Wolf to discuss these issues, and Mr. Applebee will report back
to the club.
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