Press release from the Mpls park board

[Brick]

"PARK BOARD TO OPEN OFF-ROAD BIKING DEMONSTRATION PROJECT THIS FALL IN WIRTH PARK"

http://www.minneapolisparks.org/forms/about/pr_toc.asp?prid=207

[noise_is_life]

I like the phrase "With help from members of the Minnesota Off-Road Cycling Advocates".

Doesn't that imply that MPRB is contributing in some way?

That's funny I haven't seen anybody from the park board at trailwork yet (except Reed and he is volunteering in a personal capacity).

Oh well, I guess publicity is publicity...

[Brick]

Doesn't that imply that MPRB is contributing in some way?
Oh well, I guess publicity is publicity...
And you know 'ol RT will show up at the opening and take credit for the whole thing.....yeah....it's publicity, and at least they got the name right.

[TrailPatrol]

...that feeds you! The Park Board is the land manager, and MOCA is volunteering under their auspices. So yes, the trails are being built by the land manager, with the help of volunteers. Without either component, it would not get done.

Working for the DNR, I am aware from the land manager's side how much we rely on volunteers to get things done in our parks and forests, especially in these days of diminishing budget dollars from the federal to the local level. You wouldn't be building any trails if the Minneapolis Park Board didn't allow it.

[noise_is_life]

I understand that, but would it kill them to say something like "MPRB is working with MOCA" instead of "MOCA is helping MPRB". It just doesn't seem to accurately represent the distribution of effort.

They are certainly getting their share of benefits from the project and they wouldn't have anything if it wasn't for the effort of volunteers.

[berrywise]

at least they got the name right.I thought MOCA stood for Minneapolis Off-Road Cycling Advocates and MORC was the Minnesota version ;)

I think this kind of stuff happens all over. For instance you won't have a newspaper without advertising but nobody would advertise in your newspaper if you didn't have writers etc.

Addition: Just to note I think its very good news and was only poking fun at the letter. Not trying to belittle anyone or place blame what so ever. More Trails are Good Trails :D

[noise_is_life]

I thought MOCA stood for Minneapolis Off-Road Cycling Advocates and MORC was the Minnesota version ;)

I think this kind of stuff happens all over. For instance you won't have a newspaper without advertising but nobody would advertise in your newspaper if you didn't have writers etc.
Right you are. :eyeroll:

[homebrewbiker]

This is excellent. For years off road riding has been fighting an image of being composed of renegades with little to no regard for the environment or other patrons. Getting official sanction from Minneapolis may open the eyes of other smaller towns that have trails. A great step forward in legiitimizing the sport in the eyes of the politicians. If the credit was not approriately portioned, I will take that in exchange for the great publicity it will provide.For awhile I was a little worried they might close down Wirth to off road riding, given the fact that it was never officially marked as being OK for biking. Sounds like that is not going to happen.
:banana:

[Trevize1138]

In fact, rather than complaining about how we're the only ones "working," why not do something about it?

I just sent this to mayor@ci.minneapolis.mn.us:

Dear Mayor Rybak,

My name is Chris Druckenmiller and I'm a member of the Minnesota Off-Road Cyclists (MORC, http://www.morcmtb.org (http://www.morcmtb.org)). I'm also a resident of Minneapolis. This summer, as I know you're aware, MORC and the Minneapolis Off-Road Cycling Advocates (MOCA, http://www.mocatrails.org (http://www.mocatrails.org)) are building the first official mountain-bike trail in Minneapolis at Theodore Wirth Park.

This trail is being built by the hard, manual labor of both MORC and MOCA members with kind premission from the Minneapolis Park Board. It's hard work, but we've got a good group of volunteers who show up every Wednesday at 5 p.m. for a few hours to clear brush, dig up roots and "shape" a 4-5 mile long, 18'' wide singletrack mountain-bike trail. We won't be done until sometime later this summer or perhaps earlier this fall.

I am writing to invite you to one of these trailwork sessions. We need all the volunteers we can get, and all of us know that you are, yourself, an avid cyclist. I'm sure you would find the process of trail building intriguing. In addition, we could end up helping each other with certain common goals, namely good publicity for you and MORC/MOCA.

There's nothing I'd love more than to get exposure for my two favorite organizations on the local TV news. And, I'm sure you can't object to the idea of Minneapolis residents seeing their mayor donating his precious time and energy to getting his hands dirty to help improve a city park.

So, pick a Wednesday afternoon sometime this summer, and join us! Just remember to wear long pants, work gloves, eye protection, bug spray and work boots.

Sincerely,
Chris Druckenmiller
member: Minnesota Off-Road Cyclists

[noise_is_life]

Good idea Chris, I was thinking of something like that, but you have the eloquence that I lack.

Concerning being too critical, I'm no diplomat, I says what I thinks.

[seberly]

I think this press release is nothing short of incredible for how far we have come and what it stands for!

First the statement of interest: "an authorized off-road biking trail in Theodore Wirth Park" think of what that means.

Then we have to remember that "Over a year’s time we will evaluate its impact on the land" so things are still tentative and we need to understand that we are not entitled to anything.

Lastly: “We are excited by the opportunity to create a formalized, signed cycling trail in the park. It will improve the experience for park patrons,” said MOCA President Pete McKinney. The trail is being built according to the best practice standards in sustainable trails from the International Mountain Bike Association. The MOCA president is quoted in the press release - what a powerful message!

In my opinion this press release absolutely recognizes MOCA.

[Don Youngdahl]

:) Granted, the press release wasn't all it could have been in recognizing the work of MOCA and MORC, but it was still very, very good compared to the usual standard of the press in covering events or issues of any sort. It's axiomatic that whenever one knows and understands the details of any issue or event, the press "never gets it right".

As for no mention of MORC, I'm not concerned in the least. The local organization, MOCA, needs to be the most visible player in Minneapolis trails, and the press release was consistent with that idea.

Don Youngdahl

[noise_is_life]

That certainly makes sense.

You know, I bet that's the first time the word axiomatic has been used on the forums. :D