mtbmore
December 13th, 2006, 08:42 AM
Virginia MORE Folks,
The Virginia Outdoors Plan is taking public comments until this FRIDAY Dec 15. Although it is short notice we need to make our mountain bike voices heard.
Here is a little background info:
This is from the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation’s website:
“The Virginia Outdoors Plan (VOP) is the state’s official document regarding land conservation, outdoor recreation and open space planning. It helps all levels of government and the private sector meet needs pertaining to those issues. The plan provides guidance for the protection of lands through actions of the Virginia Land Conservation Foundation (VLCF), and the plan is required in order for Virginia to take part in the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) program.
This plan was put together in the last year and they are taking public comments on it until THIS FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15.
Why is this important to MORE?:
Specifically, MORE is most interested in the recommendations for the Northern Virginia region. This region includes nine local governments. These are the Counties of Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William, the Cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas and Manassas Park and the Towns of Herndon, Leesburg,Vienna and Dumfries.
This plan outlines recommendations for state and county officials to consider when planning recreational land use. Which to us, means are they going to consider mountain bikers when planning new or updating current trail systems?
The plan does not specify individual parks but it does specify recommendations for various trail systems and localities throughout Northern Virginia. The recommendations are taken very seriously and if specific trail projects are mentioned in the VOP there is a possibility that funding for these trail projects will be easier to obtain. So, it is important that the language in the plan include things such as “multiuse trails” and “natural surface trail systems” (which in our language could mean “single track that ROCKS!").
Some of us in MORE have come up with some suggestions for the VOP. And we are asking that if you live in Northern Virginia to please take a minute and either read through the Northern Virginia section of the VOP http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/prr/docs/voppd08.pdf and make your own comments to DCR or at the very least submit an email asking for the following items we have listed for you.
Since we know a lot of you have absolutely no time between holiday shopping, riding, work, and life in general we hope to make this as easy and as painless as possible. Just cut and paste the suggestions we listed below into an email addressed to vop@dcr.virginia.gov include an simple explanation like “Hi, I am a Northern VA resident and as a fellow citizen who enjoys the mountain biking on Virginia’s trails I would like to make the following comments regarding the 2006 VOP;(cut and paste suggestions)” at the end of the email make sure you include your name and address.
That’s it! Please, please, please send a quick email. Your time could have a huge influence on getting more trails in Northern VA! Thanks for your time!
Here are the suggestions we came up with: the numbers pertain to the recommendations in the report so please keep those in there for reference. And please feel free to add your own comments and suggestions.
4) "the Bull Run - Occoquan Trail" - In the last sentence, change "Consider connecting this trail to the PHNST" to "Work to connect this trail to the PHNST".
Add "Consider potential new additions to the trail and existing sections where appropriate for multi-use designation."
6) Change to "Complete the Fx CCT links to existing local trails between and stream valley parks between GF Park andOccoquan park. Retain the CCT in northern sections in a natural state, with natural surface trail."
38) Mason Neck SP - Change the last sentence to "The region offers opportunity for other expanded opportunities to connect the parks with multi-user trails.
39) Leesylvania SP - Add a sentence - "Increasing the network multi-user trails is being considered."
40) State and Wildlife Management Areas - Change the sentence to "VA Dept of Gaming and Inland Fisheries should continue to develop multi-user trail systems within WMAs to facilitate access for nature study, bird watching, hunting, fishing and recreation in periods outside hunting seasons."
It should be suggested that NVRPA consider expanding current and future trail systems to include multiple user groups in order to ease the strain on current single use trails and provide more opportunities for various trail users.
DCR will be accepting comments in writing as well. Email comments tovop@dcr.virginia.gov or mail them to:
Attn: John Davy
Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation
203 Governor Street, Room 326
Richmond, VA 23219
Thanks
Randy Kerr Virginia Advocacy Director
Anne Mader Virginia At Large
The Virginia Outdoors Plan is taking public comments until this FRIDAY Dec 15. Although it is short notice we need to make our mountain bike voices heard.
Here is a little background info:
This is from the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation’s website:
“The Virginia Outdoors Plan (VOP) is the state’s official document regarding land conservation, outdoor recreation and open space planning. It helps all levels of government and the private sector meet needs pertaining to those issues. The plan provides guidance for the protection of lands through actions of the Virginia Land Conservation Foundation (VLCF), and the plan is required in order for Virginia to take part in the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) program.
This plan was put together in the last year and they are taking public comments on it until THIS FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15.
Why is this important to MORE?:
Specifically, MORE is most interested in the recommendations for the Northern Virginia region. This region includes nine local governments. These are the Counties of Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William, the Cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas and Manassas Park and the Towns of Herndon, Leesburg,Vienna and Dumfries.
This plan outlines recommendations for state and county officials to consider when planning recreational land use. Which to us, means are they going to consider mountain bikers when planning new or updating current trail systems?
The plan does not specify individual parks but it does specify recommendations for various trail systems and localities throughout Northern Virginia. The recommendations are taken very seriously and if specific trail projects are mentioned in the VOP there is a possibility that funding for these trail projects will be easier to obtain. So, it is important that the language in the plan include things such as “multiuse trails” and “natural surface trail systems” (which in our language could mean “single track that ROCKS!").
Some of us in MORE have come up with some suggestions for the VOP. And we are asking that if you live in Northern Virginia to please take a minute and either read through the Northern Virginia section of the VOP http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/prr/docs/voppd08.pdf and make your own comments to DCR or at the very least submit an email asking for the following items we have listed for you.
Since we know a lot of you have absolutely no time between holiday shopping, riding, work, and life in general we hope to make this as easy and as painless as possible. Just cut and paste the suggestions we listed below into an email addressed to vop@dcr.virginia.gov include an simple explanation like “Hi, I am a Northern VA resident and as a fellow citizen who enjoys the mountain biking on Virginia’s trails I would like to make the following comments regarding the 2006 VOP;(cut and paste suggestions)” at the end of the email make sure you include your name and address.
That’s it! Please, please, please send a quick email. Your time could have a huge influence on getting more trails in Northern VA! Thanks for your time!
Here are the suggestions we came up with: the numbers pertain to the recommendations in the report so please keep those in there for reference. And please feel free to add your own comments and suggestions.
4) "the Bull Run - Occoquan Trail" - In the last sentence, change "Consider connecting this trail to the PHNST" to "Work to connect this trail to the PHNST".
Add "Consider potential new additions to the trail and existing sections where appropriate for multi-use designation."
6) Change to "Complete the Fx CCT links to existing local trails between and stream valley parks between GF Park andOccoquan park. Retain the CCT in northern sections in a natural state, with natural surface trail."
38) Mason Neck SP - Change the last sentence to "The region offers opportunity for other expanded opportunities to connect the parks with multi-user trails.
39) Leesylvania SP - Add a sentence - "Increasing the network multi-user trails is being considered."
40) State and Wildlife Management Areas - Change the sentence to "VA Dept of Gaming and Inland Fisheries should continue to develop multi-user trail systems within WMAs to facilitate access for nature study, bird watching, hunting, fishing and recreation in periods outside hunting seasons."
It should be suggested that NVRPA consider expanding current and future trail systems to include multiple user groups in order to ease the strain on current single use trails and provide more opportunities for various trail users.
DCR will be accepting comments in writing as well. Email comments tovop@dcr.virginia.gov or mail them to:
Attn: John Davy
Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation
203 Governor Street, Room 326
Richmond, VA 23219
Thanks
Randy Kerr Virginia Advocacy Director
Anne Mader Virginia At Large