Dear Director Renfrow-
I have been advocating for mountain bike trails at North Point on Virginia Key for over 4 years now, and was pleased when the City of Miami made its decision to move forward with mountain bike trails in Northpoint. Part of the Virginia Key Master Plan, it may be the one thing that actually can move forward now because its inexpensive and quick and will be enjoyed by many of the thousands of cyclists in Miami and the rest of Dade County.
According to City of Miami Bicycle Coordinator Colin Worth, his instructions were to get it done by the summer and one of the things that were offered to help get it done was the services and equipment of the County Water and Sewer Department. You have the equipment and manpower nearby and I understand you have a few employees on your team who are enthused by the idea. I also understand that the county is seeking an easement from the city to run some sort of pipe through the area as well.
Understanding how long the government can take for some things, I had been patiently waiting to organize the volunteers, but based on the assurances I had received, we had our first volunteer day two Saturdays ago. We initially limited the number attending to 15 or so and word has quickly spread around the nation about the amazing potential of these trails.
90,000 mountain bikers visit Oleta State Park in Northern Dade County every year, and thousands more visit Amelia Earhart County Park and they (and thousand of non mountain biker families) will enjoy the unique terrain, vegetation and view that Northpoint has. I understand that we’re basically talking about a 2 county employees for a few weeks with some chainsaws and a bobcat and that it has been promised early on the process. Please honor the original promise and get the crew started this month so we can take advantage of the momentum the trails have generated.
Besides, it’s only getting hotter and stickier back there.
Respectfully,
John Voss
jvoss@jvossman.com
305.491.7159
President Virginia Key Bicycle Club
Vice President Oleta River Adventure Association
Charity Chair, Everglades Bicycle Club
Related posts:
- Regarding the Virginia Key Bike Trails
- Outcome of Virginia Key Master Plan Vote at the City of Miami. By Geniusofdespair
- Oleta River State Park: Getting Mountain Bikers to the Park by Bicycle
- Virginia Key Masterplan Approved by Board
- Concert Review: Yonder Mountain String Band at Revolution, February 12