8 Responses to “Forest Hill Park bike trail row”

1. posted by Lisa at April 23, 2008 12:52 pm :
   

   The woman interviewed in the news clip has a long standing disdain for mountain bikers and this isn’t the first time she has publicly commented about the issue. I wouldn’t expect to see closure on this issue from her in the near future. I think blaming mountain bikers for a tree falling in the woods is quite comical but I’ll give her points for originality. She didn’t seem to take issue with whoever stapled signs to the trees in the park, however. I would think puncturing trees with staples could be deemed destructive as well, not to mention illegal signage posted in the park, but I suppose if it helps get her point across or support her cause, then she’s okay with it.

2. posted by Ben at April 23, 2008 1:40 pm :
   

   Compare the width of those trails and, subsequently, the small sum of roots from any particular tree the trail comes into contact with and her argument seems ludicrous. I am disgusted by people like her who narrow-mindedly try to take away the priveleges of others over such a thin premise.

   Trees fall in the woods without any interence from humans. I wonder who she’d be upset with if she lived in the country and a tree fell on her land.

3. posted by Jennifer C. at April 23, 2008 2:16 pm :
   

   I don’t have the proverbial dog in this fight, but I thought it was a pretty silly argument, too. Yes, poorly-maintained trails can cause problems, particularly when people ride after bad weather when the trails are soaked. However, trees fall all the time - especially when there’s a long dry spell followed by a bunch of rain. Ahem.

4. posted by ParkUser at April 23, 2008 7:20 pm :
   

   First, I am tired a few people speaking on behalf of a whole neighborhood. FHP is public property and as a citizen I have a right to enjoy this park without hearing people whine all the time.

   I’ve been using the park for at least 7 years now (well before the mtbiking was big) and the trails are NOT mountain biking trails. They are simply trails for all to use. While it’s true that cyclists may use them more often, I still use them to walk alone, with my wife, and/or with my dogs.

   Let’s get one thing clear too, the person raising the stink about this is someone who is OBSESSED with her own agenda, period! This person while claiming to be a friend of FHP and the environment also has been cited in a local paper for admiring spray painting (IE: taggin) of buildings in Richmond. Also lending more “artistic credibility” to the rogue painting if it’s on historic property. (Check back issues of Style Mag on 06 or 07)

   This lady and 2 others are upset because they have been fighting the city to keep FHP lake from being reclaimed and now they are trying to assert themselves again by making outlandish commentary about trails toppling huges trees.

   Both the city and volunteers have been wanting to fix the trails, but are constantly blocked by these woman.

   If people want to talk about erosion in the park, just look at the “pathways
   cut from 32st to FHP from the road and the yards along the park and see how those erosion issues have washouts heading straight downhill, something the trails don’t do. Looks at all the yard clippings & debris that the adjacent neighbors pile into the park or the trucks and cars parked along the woods of FHP like a personal parking lot, each possibly leaking oil and other chemicals into the soil.

   My point is to show the hypocritical side of these folks who only represent themselves and no one else.

   Just look at listings for house in the neighborhood and see how people reference living just around the corner from the trails as a *bonus* to living in and around FHP.

   These trails bring value all around and if these ladies would step up and let the city and volunteers clean up the few trail issues everyone would be happier!

   I don’t know what FHP does to people, but it seems that there are about 5 people around all sides of the park that feel a sense of “entitlement” as if by owning a house nearby they own the park too.

   There are 2 people completely upset and ticked off that there is going to be a farmers market at the park. They called the city complaining because they simply don’t want to see anyone using the park since it borders their land.

   These same people complain about the outdoor music in the park too, claiming it’s not a valid use of a park. And to them neither is hiking, walking, running, fishing, cycling, bbqing, tennis or anything else.

   I can’t stress enough that everyone appalled by the story that lead to this article needs to call Ch8 and the city to make sure the real truth is heard. That the FEW do not rule the MANY, we can and do speak for ourselves.

   Thanks anyway Heidi, but I think my vote is USE a park, NOT let is go to waste and crime.

5. posted by Justin at April 24, 2008 12:05 pm :
   

   I think we all agree that woman’s comments really were silly. That said, the bikers have sure made walking the Buttermilk trail a dangerous proposition, as if the trails are only there for them.

6. posted by Mike S. at April 24, 2008 3:53 pm :
   

   I believe Channel 8 was remiss in taking the word of an impacted resident that the first tree fell because of erosion caused by the trails. It would be reassuring to have a soil and erosion engineer/technician and an aborist give their expert opinions as to why the tree fell.

   The sense of entitlement referenced in post #4 is unfortunately real and I guess only human, although “selfish human”.

7. posted by adi at April 24, 2008 10:45 pm :
   

   They always try to run over my dog on that buttermilk trail. She doesn’t know to make way for xtreme dudes coming through.

8. posted by Common Sense Mom at April 25, 2008 10:55 am :
   

   It is my understanding that Forest Hill Park used to be overrun with crime and was avoided by most neighbors. It is also my understanding that it was the presence of the mountain bikers who started to discourage crime and loitering in the park. I am comforted by the presence of the mountain bikers in the park when I walk around the “lake”. I don’t think I would venture down there alone (even with my dog) without them. Mountain bikers have brought far more benefit to the park than damage. And in my opinion, any “damage” they may create is well worth not getting mugged.

   Also - Mountian bikers do alot of trail management and clean-up that the City would never be able to do.

   As far as the “aggressive behavior” that mountian bikers exhibit, I can’t say I have experienced that. I have always been treated with respect when walking the trails. I find them to be very respectful and courteous.

   I think blame is being misplaced here. The City of Richmond has allowed Forest Hill Park fall into dismal conditions. If you go down into the park and tally all the trees that have fallen due to disease, poor drainage and lack of care it would FAR OUTNUMBER the “damage” that a few thin mountain biking trails have caused. The City is responsible for more dead trees than any mountain bike trail.

   Parks are to be USED - and just like every other situation in life, we all have to figure out how to co-exist.

   While I am sorry that this neighbor has sustained damage to her home, I feel that she should not blame the bikers. She should blame the City. Really though, sometimes trees just fall and there is no way to predict which one will fall and which storm it will succomb to. This neighbor is moving and probably to an area that is not “infested” with mountain bikers. That’s probably the best for everyone.

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