The Bowmont Natural Environment Park Management Plan was presented to the Standing Policy Committee of the Community and Protective Services Committee (read selected Aldermen) on October 29, 2003. The Plan that was presented was approved by the Committee and will now go before City Council for what is generally a formal approval.

CMBA have been involved over the three years that the Plan has been in the making. We support the Plan and are pleased with the outcome. As cyclists, we retained access to all of the same trails that will be open to walkers, hikers etc. We need to respect that access. The process treated mountain bicyclists as equal partners and park users, with respect to other park user groups.

The Bowmont Park Management Plan is to be presented to the Standing Policy Committee on Community and Protective Services (SPC) on Wednesday, October 29. It is a daytime meeting and open to the public. Anyone in attendance can have up to 5 minutes to voice their opinion of the Plan. This will be the second time that the Plan has been presented to the SPC - the first was June 2002 when the Plan was presented and not approved due to dog off-leash issues.

December 12 was the final meeting of the stakeholder groups providing input into the final draft of the Bowmont Natural Area Management Plan. The Management Plan will be finalized in April 2002 and is expected to go before the SPC in May or June. CMBA will be there to support the management plan, as well as to state our position on issues such as environmental protection and the equivalent impact caused by hikers and cyclists. We would also like to help with user education and volunteer trail maintenance. Stay tuned!