Parks Trails Manager Sam Dudley spoke with commissioners during the May 3 workshop, updating them on projects for downhill trailbike riders and hikers at Lake Leatherwood City Park.
Parking was the topic of much discussion with Dudley wanting to turn the closed off shuttle turnaround at the top of the downhill bike trails into parking for DH riders. Currently, DH riders park at the ballfields and both Dudley and commissioners said they’ve received feedback that due to the clog of riders on the weekends it can be difficult for other users of the park to find parking.
Dudley said the repurpose of the turnaround would add 25 – 30 parking spaces and would help segregate different uses of the park. He also expressed interest in reopening Miner’s Rock Trail parking to allow easier access for hikers to reach that section of trails. Executive Director Scott Miskiel said that the department has received weekly complaints about that parking lot being closed and that signage would be made to make the lot reserved for hikers only.
Commissioners voiced their approval of giving both bikers and hikers more convenient parking areas and how they believed it would help alleviate congestion at the ballfields. Dudley said that the Miner’s Rock parking could be reopened quickly, and the repurposing of the shuttle turnaround would take several weeks.
Miskiel said he believed those using the downhill trails should be paying for the wear and tear whether they are using the shuttles or self-shuttling, and a fee structure was discussed. Wristbands are currently used for those shuttling to the top of the DH trails and Miskiel suggested the same could be done for those self-shuttling. It was noted in the discussion the difficulty of enforcing the rules with an open parking lot. While no decisions could be made at the workshop regarding fees it is on the commission’s radar to research solutions.
Master Planning and meeting length were the other major topics with commissioner Sue Hubbard asking how Parks would move forward with the Master Planning process. Commissioners generally agreed that a priority list needed to be created for assessments and what items needed to be budgeted for in the future.
Miskiel suggested, as he had several months ago, that a Master Planning committee be formed to review the various assessments being performed at LLCP and to make recommendations to the commission on what would be included. Chair Ruth Hager said the creation of the committee would be on the next meeting agenda.
The topic of fixed meeting length led to commissioners discussing when Miskiel should request commission approval for Parks’ operations. Miskiel said that updates to trails and whether the commission wanted to be involved can create a long-winded agenda.
Commissioners Mark Ingram and Bren Marshell agreed that the commission should give Miskiel responsibility and accountability to handle items such as trail reroutes, and other maintenance, without them interfering with the process. Hubbard mentioned that Miskiel receiving as much feedback as possible was an important aspect even to trail maintenance, and Miskiel said that a trails committee would be a “perfect” place to have those discussions.
It was noted that a stronger definition of when the Executive Director goes to the commission for approval was needed as the current definition in parks by-laws was vague and has been interpreted differently from director-to-director and chair-to-chair.