With this years RTP grant deadline coming up (Feb. 1) I can't help but think about the tremendous success of the Central Ky. Wheelmen with mtb trail system at Younger's Creek.
Last year they were 1 of only 2 non-government groups to receive funding for single-track trails (the other was the Red River Gorge climbers). Only 2 other mtb specific grants were issued, one for the LBL and one for Cave Run.
The CKW crew successfully submitted a grant for $69K!!! By far the largest non-government mtb state RTP grant that I've ever heard of. Younger's Creek is quickly turning into a mtb destination.
In addition, w/the buzz started for their upcoming mtb races, I couldn't help but notice that they've expanded the trail system to approx. 15 miles!!! All on about 700 acres. Fantastic job by a dedicated and passionate group.
By comparison, the states largest group of off-road cyclists located here in the Louisville area have added maybe a mile or so at Waverly Park during that same time period. Pushing the total mtb trail mileage here in Lou. to approx. 10 or 12. Let's hope that one day the trail expansion here in Louisville (we have well over 10,000 acres of public property available here in Jefferson County) goes as well!
Don, you were President of
AWESOME JOB CKW!! Don, I believe you were President of "the largest group of off-road cyclist located here in the Louisville area" for the last six years or so - were you not? The KYMBA leadership (past and present) and it's members have to take some responsibility for this. Maybe they can learn something from CKW. Not trying to start an argument here like I've seen on another site, but you brought it up. Peace.
Thanks for pointing out I
Thanks for pointing out I was in fact president, and it was a very difficult job early on, as Metro Parks had nearly killed the local mtb efforts. Thank goodness the internet came along when it did, or KyMBA may have folded.
When I took over we had like 23 dues paying members. So job one was to increase the membership base. Thanks in part to an improved website, local and state wide participation and interest soared.
Step two was to generate some serious funding, which is why I submitted (against Metro Parks wishes mind you) the RTP grant, net result, over $12,000 for KyMBA's bank account.
At about that same time, after 3 yrs. of advocacy (begging!) I got a land adoption agreement signed for Waverly, and interest really started to peak, and shortly thereafter we had our first ever Lou. mtb race there.
Metro Parks had been blowing KyMBA off for well over a decade (we use to have access to parts of Jeff. Mem. Forest for example) so the time had come to take them on, directly and forcefully, in an effort to turn the tables and gain access to some of the more than 10,000 acres here locally. You have to remember that if you owned a horse, you already had access to the majority of those acres, and they have no local advocacy group, nor provide any direct benefit to the trails.
So when I finally, as leader of the club, took on Metro Parks, several of our risk-averse leadership-lacking members immediately turned into obedient boy trail servants for Metro Parks and the rest is history.
Nonetheless, I keep hearing locals ask why we don't have more access, and my response is unless you're willing to stand up and fight (our current "leadership" really dislikes that word) for it, you aint gonna get it! How ironic that the local dog group took about 2 minutes to sue the city and our local cycling group is afraid to do anything near that.
Think about it, some little old ladys out walking their poodles have more backbone and fight in them than our local advocacy group! (ha)
Not sure about the only
Not sure about the only ones......but they are not in Kentucky so that may be different
"as many of you know, HMBA has been awarded a federal RTP (Recreational Trails Program) Grant. Through this grant, HMBA will be reimbursed for up to $150,000 towards building trails at Brown County State Park."
The HMBA has really been on
The HMBA has really been on a tear for the last several years. I think it all got started when IMBA issued IN a "D" on one of their yearly scorecards.
If I remember correctly, Richard Ries sent in a response defending IN's progress, and shortly thereafter, things really seemed to blossom.
I first met Richard when I drove down to southern IL to attend my first IMBA Trail Care School, several years ago. When the instructors asked who drove the farthest I thought it was going to be me, but there was Richard who drove down all the way from Madison, IN.
IN has 3 times the population of KY, as well as a professional full-time Race Director, so you would think things, just based on the numbers, would be going a little better. Nonetheless, it's refreshing to hear about all of the recent successes just across the river. There's been several state parks/forests recently opened up in addition to the well-publicized Brown County project. Hope you guys keep up the good work and continue forward w/all of the trail building.
Kudo's to the Younger's Creek crew!
CKW making it happen. They're setting the example and leading the way in Kentucky for MTB clubs in the trails department. It rocks to hear what all they have accomplished with their trails and grant money. Looking forward to riding at Younger's Creek....
It rules to hear what all has been accomplished in the recent past by the HMBA also. That's a whole lot of trail building coin!!!! Hoosier trail happenings are going WFO....