A previously disbanded group called the Nose Hill Park Community Board (NHPCB) has appeared from nowhere and convinced Ald. Dale Hodges to attempt to delay the Parks and Recreation plan because they were uncomfortable with the outcome of the public consultation process. Ald. Hodges was able to convince City Council to delay acceptance 'until Parks and Recreation can review the NHPCB plan.' The interesting thing is the plan that the Community Board is bringing forward is substantially the same plan that was offered as an alternative during the regular public consultation process. This plan was rated fourth out of the four plans that were put forward for public review.

In order to breathe new life into this discredited plan the Community Board has initiated a series of pseudo public meetings to 'gather public input'. To prevent the Board from stacking the meetings and declaring overwhelming support and to stand up for cyclist's rights in Nose Hill Park we need cyclists to attend these meetings, ask questions and voice their opinion.

We are urging all cyclists to attend at least one of these so-called public meetings. The meetings are:

• June 15, 7:00pm - 9:00pm
  Triwood Community Association, 2244 Chicoutimi Dr NW
• June 16, 7:00pm - 9:00pm
  Thorncliffe Greenview Community Association, 5600 Centre St N
• June 22, 7:00pm - 9:00pm
  Dalhousie Community Association, 5432 Dalhart Rd NW

While we do not want to be rude or obnoxious it is important that you attend and to express yourself. We have found they intend to 'collect statistics' and compare their plan against the City's to gather support for their plan. Their meetings are not endorsed by the City as the City views them as just a private group trying to drum up believers.

However, from what we have been able to determine about their plan, it appears quite detrimental to cyclists:

• Bikes will be limited to 20-30 km of trail (down from 320 km now or 61 km in the City plan)
• Restrictions may only apply to bikes so the plan is really just for cyclists and does not have to be followed by walkers
• The trails will be much narrower than the City plan 1 m or 75 cm leading to greater user conflict and probably more calls to ban bikes
• With no restrictions on walkers the plan will be useless for restoration or preservation of the Park.
• Dogs will be allowed anywhere because they are considered pedestrians when on-leash.
• The Porcupine Valley paved trail will be removed. This will have a detrimental effect on anyone who wishes to ride a road bike in or through the Park, will prevent mobility impaired people from accessing the Park and will make family outings with small children in stroller much more difficult.

In short, it is a return to the same old blame-it-all-on-bikes attitude we have seen for the last 12 years. CMBA supports the City plan which attempts to deal with the problems rather than simply blame a minority group.

This self-anointed 'board' justifies themselves by claiming the park must be kept as an 'ecological preserve' and must not become a 'recreational park' CMBA feels with proper management it can be both, but the NHPCB feels their goal of making it an ecological preserve must be attained by restricting bikes. Of course their plan caters directly to their comfortable and complete use of the Park. For example, they are not willing to alter the boundary of the multi-use zone (as has been proposed in the City's plan) to provide greater protection to wildlife because they appear to see that as an intrusion on their right to use the Park in any way they wish.

So please get you and your friends together and attend these meetings and tell this group you support the City plan (way more trails) and that the park should support recreation and not just for them.

Please note the plan that CMBA supports still restricts cyclists, but it does so in a fair and open fashion. All users will be held to the same restrictions and the plan encourages use of the park rather than discouraging it by making access difficult (for bikes.)

Dealing with the NHPCB has been most difficult as they refuse to talk to anyone but their own members. The group claims to represent residents around the park yet refuses to come to the table and describe the plan - even to the City!

They were, however, quite unhappy with the 600 plus participants in the two open houses held by the City and are staging their own meetings to promote their own plan. These meetings are not sanctioned by the City but they seem determined to show that they have some form of public support to bolster their credibility. We think it would be great if cyclists attend these and make their feelings known. CMBA has worked with the City and other interest groups for over a year to create a fair plan that supports cycling while protecting the Park. Don't let a small group of radicals undermine this process and prevent you and other cyclists from enjoying Nose Hill Park.