Terrace Oaks Closed for the 2007 Season

[nigel]

Terrace is closed for the season as of October 15th. The gate is up and the trail head sign says closed to biking. Please DO NOT RIDE the trail until next spring. Closed means closed.

If you have concerns over the early closing, please check the link below and send an e-mail expressing the want for a later closing date. The more that speak up the more likely it is to happen :)

http://www.ci.burnsville.mn.us/index.asp?NID=206

[Danimal]

e-mail sent!

[Bshannon]

Since I ride this trail fairly often as it is very close to my house I am curious as to why the closing at this time of year (always the 15th?). With all the trails (hiking and walking) in this park do others close at this time? Or, do the bike trail sustain more damage in the normally wetter conditions of this time of year?

[nigel]

There is no real reason for the early closing date. It is what it is, thats why we need people to send e-mails out asking for a later close date, one might suggest when snow falls or when they begin to prep the xc-ski trails. Terrace is the only trail with an actual close date (BC closes once snow is groomed, others are open).

[ryno lite]

Since I ride this trail fairly often as it is very close to my house I am curious as to why the closing at this time of year (always the 15th?). With all the trails (hiking and walking) in this park do others close at this time? Or, do the bike trail sustain more damage in the normally wetter conditions of this time of year?

Since you are a Burnsville resident, an email from you will be very important in regards to changing this rule. Residents have more say than non-residents.

[Bshannon]

Email sent

[ryno lite]

Email sent

Great, it always looks good from a resident! Hopefully a few more people can push them to extend it! TO is a cool trail and will only get better, so hopefully we can enjoy it longer!

[PhatTony]

E-Mail Sent

[I_Fall_Alot]

I sent an email, too. I sent it to Randy Oppelt. There were three people listed on the Web link, and I hope that is the right person.

[Uncle Leo]

I sent an email, too. I sent it to Randy Oppelt. There were three people listed on the Web link, and I hope that is the right person.

Me too, he (or she?) seemed like the closest fit out of the 3.

[cendres]

My gf wrote an email and received the following response:

Tami,
The City of Burnsville policy has stated that the Terrace Oaks mountain bike trails will close on October 15 since the trails were established. However we will be discussing opening them earlier in the year and keeping them open later at our fall trail committee meeting. We will discuss criteria for when and why to open and close them at this meeting also.

Thank you for sharing your concern,
Jon Nissen
City of Burnsville Park Supervisor

More emails may influence their decision!

[bakkeb]

Dammit! I wanted to get one more ride in before this happened. :banghead:. I'm glad I hit it 3 times this month. I've always been confused yet understand why every year it closes early. I'll send an e-mail cause it would be nice to have it open a little longer. I think this was my 400th post!!!!:banana::etard:

[nigel]

I sent an email, too. I sent it to Randy Oppelt. There were three people listed on the Web link, and I hope that is the right person.

Randy is the correct one, he will filter it to Jon who is not on the list. Having both of them aware of it is great.

[I_Fall_Alot]

My gf wrote an email and received the following response:

Tami,
The City of Burnsville policy has stated that the Terrace Oaks mountain bike trails will close on October 15 since the trails were established. However we will be discussing opening them earlier in the year and keeping them open later at our fall trail committee meeting. We will discuss criteria for when and why to open and close them at this meeting also.

Thank you for sharing your concern,
Jon Nissen
City of Burnsville Park Supervisor

More emails may influence their decision!

I got the same email reply. I emailed him back asking if the meeting was open to the public, and asked for the where/when, etc. I'll post Jon's response when I get it.

It would be nice to have this trail open a bit longer. It's a five min. bike ride from our house, and it's a good trail for a couple of quick laps.

[nigel]

The meetings are generally not open to the public, I attend and represent MORC along with John Dahl, who is a member of the community and was the trail steward before myself.

The most important thing you can do right now is simply politely voice an interest in the trail, ride them when open, ask for later close date, earlier open dates, more trail ect..... If we are not heard they will not listen. It's one thing for me to ask over and over again, but if more people do the impact is greater.

Douglas

[nigel]

See the link below on how to create awareness of MORC in the park.


http://www.morcmtb.org/forums/showthread.php?t=23332

[BG128]

glad that my son and I got out on saterday for one last ride It would be nice to see it open untill snow though.

[fasterfoster]

My gf wrote an email and received the following response:

Tami,
The City of Burnsville policy has stated that the Terrace Oaks mountain bike trails will close on October 15 since the trails were established. However we will be discussing opening them earlier in the year and keeping them open later at our fall trail committee meeting. We will discuss criteria for when and why to open and close them at this meeting also.

Thank you for sharing your concern,
Jon Nissen
City of Burnsville Park Supervisor

More emails may influence their decision!
Unfortunately, the response is very similar to the one I received years ago before MORC even adopted the trail. I have expressed my opinion every year (as have many others) and nothing seems to change.
Keep trying though!

[ryno lite]

Unfortunately, the response is very similar to the one I received years ago before MORC even adopted the trail. I have expressed my opinion every year (as have many others) and nothing seems to change.
Keep trying though!

I'm sure we'll wear them down! Doug is finally getting them to see our way and I think good things will eventually happen! If we keep lobbying and interest is there, I think they will change.

[nigel]

Just an FYI on this subject. I was sent a list of names of those that have sent in e-mails about this to the land manager. Some have sent fairly aggressive messages about the subject, please do not try and come across this way! I realize we all want trails open longer and the like but we must take the time and keep polite and consistent with our message.

D

[gopherhockey]

Just an FYI on this subject. I was sent a list of names of those that have sent in e-mails about this to the land manager. Some have sent fairly aggressive messages about the subject, please do not try and come across this way! I realize we all want trails open longer and the like but we must take the time and keep polite and consistent with our message.

D

Good note Doug. No matter how frustrating situations might seem to us, we all need to remember to keep calm and send polite and well thought out messages when taking action on items like this. Nobody likes a complainer or someone who acts as if they are owed something - I've seen that backfire for other special interest groups.

Taking action is good, but do it in a way that makes them want to give in, not become defensive. Always thank them for their time and efforts and support and for their continued efforts with groups such as MORC.