Why Lebanon?

[Maverick]

I love Lebanon Hills with a passion, but there is one question that always comes up in the back of my mind:

Why did MORC decide to rebuild Lebanon before any of the other major trails in the metro area? Is it because Lebanon is so popular and because Dakota gave the go ahead on so much?

I am not complaining by any means since Lebanon is the closest major trail by me. Of course I haven't riden any of the other trails to able to judge them since I just got back into biking, but from the reviews it sounds as if Lebanon is one of the best in the metro. Lebanon gets tons of work by MORC compared to the other trails.

Next burning question, why did Dakota name the park Lebanon Hills? I mean, whats so special about the country of Lebanon? Why didn't they name it Cambodia Hills or something like that? I have no clue what the country of Lebanon is like, anybody know? I'm assuming thats where the name came from, unless it was the last name of a person that lived there or something.

Thats enough of my questions for now until I think of some more :eyeroll:

[Tim Wegner]

What happened at Lebanon Hills Park goes back to 1999. Dakota County needed to rewrite the masterplan for the park. In doing so they decided that the best approach would be to involve the citizens that have an interest in the activity within the park. Dakota County formed a group of "Stakeholders", individuals that represented specific interest groups, of park users.

Dale Gundberg was chosen to represent mountain bikers and I was selected to represent cross country skiers. Up to this point Dale and I did not know each other. Our common interest and concern about mountain biking quickly became apparent and we agreed that we would do whatever it took to ensure that mountain biking was not removed as an activity an Lebanon Hills Park.

We worked at establishing a relationship with parks personnel as well as the consultant that helped write that masterplan. The Stakeholders met once or twice a month for almost 18 months before we had a finished document that was approved by Dakota County Parks, Dakota County commissioners and the Met Council.

During that 18 months Dale and I worked to get a visit from the IMBA trail crew. That visit was scheduled for July of 2001. Joey Klein was the crew member from IMBA. We worked with Dakota County and had approximately 12-15 of their workers attend the school. Upper management at Dakota County Parks bought in to the idea of sustainable trails and allowed us to build the first single track at Lebanon Hills (often referred to as "The Joey Trail" by MORC trail crew members)

Parks superintendent, Steve Sullivan and his assistant, Bruce Blair liked what the Joey Trail looked like and how it performed during wet conditions. They were also impressed with MORC's dedication to getting the trails completed and built to IMBA standards.

MORC does not only work at Lebanon Hills, work has been ongoing at Battle Creek. More work will be occuring this year on the river bottoms trail, Murphy Hanrehan, Terrace Oaks and Harmon Park in Inver Grove Heights. MORC members have helped build the trails in Elk River as well as Milaca (under the direction of The Blast group)

We have focused on Lebanon Hills because at the time Dakota County was the only government agency that was open to allowing additional mountain biking trails to be built. We have used the trails at Lebanon Hills to "sell" other land managers on sustainable trails, dedication to mainitaining trails and MORC's committment to stewardship for the trails that are being built by the volunteers.

The results that we have been able to show to other land managers has opened opportunities for new trails in many other areas of the Metro that will result in new trails built. Right now the only things holding us back from building in other areas are money, volunteers to help with the build process, time and in a few areas one other person to sign off on the idea that mountain bikers can be trusted to build sustainable trails, maintain them and treat the land with respect by staying on trails and staying off the trails when they are wet and can be damaged by some ding dong who does not understand that trails don't repair themselves and every hour the crews spend repairing damaged trails is one less hour they can spend building new trails in other areas of the Metro.

Hope this helps answer your questions. e- mail me directly if you would like to have a discussion about trails, land access issues or trail building.

Oh--Apple Valley used to be called Lebanon and I think even the county used to be called Lebanon not to sure about that part. I think it is remarkable that 30+ years ago some of our elected officials saw the wisdom of setting aside 2100 acres of land as a primitive park and resisted the attempts to develop this land in to housing areas. Will Branning was one of those officials--I think Will is now the chair for Dakota County Commisioners--send him a thanks next time you are on the County web site.

Wow first thing in the morning and a history lesson!

Thanks,

[EmL34]

Tim, Thank you for the information and all that you, Dale, IMBA and MORC have done. This is one hell of an accomplishment.

I've been riding at Lebanon for six or seven years and seen much of this process. The transformation is remarkable. Besides the obvious improvement in the trails, the number and types of riders that ride at LH now are incredible.

I also used to be a fan of Murphy, and in some ways see some similarities in the way the process is unfolding there. I hope the end is as positive there as it has been at LH.

If that proves to be case and one or two of the other projects succeeds, the Minneapolis metro could become a regional mountain bike destination. What that would do for the local bike scene is hard to even imagine. I forsee a snowball effect where the bike scene becomes so strong and the economic impact so great that rather than fighting for a spot at the table, the MTB scene is invited to host and run the party.

Regardless of how this turns out, what has been accomplished to date is incredible and the possibilities are awesome. MORC defintely has my charitable donations locked up for the rest of my days. Thank you!

[gopherhockey]

Originally posted by EmL34


If that proves to be case and one or two of the other projects succeeds, the Minneapolis metro could become a regional mountain bike destination. What that would do for the local bike scene is hard to even imagine. I forsee a snowball effect where the bike scene becomes so strong and the economic impact so great that rather than fighting for a spot at the table, the MTB scene is invited to host and run the party.



Very well said! I get goose-bumps just thinking about what the riding scene could be like in just a few years. Lebanon will be a 9+ mile loop, Murphy... who knows, probably double or better. Harmon.. maybe even some new destinations we don't even know about yet.... ahhh... I can see it now. (drools..)

[Maverick]

Wow, great info there. Very interesting, thanks...