Laserfiche WebLink
Exhibit A. <br />January 1, 2017 <br />ORONO PARKS Proposal <br />CROSS COUTRY SKIING ON BIG ISLAND <br />CONTEXT <br />My wife Jeanne and moved to Excelsior to run the Bird House Inn on Excelsior Bay in 2012 and <br />noticed immediately that Water Street was busier with guests and visitors in the summer than <br />in the winter. Thus, we started the Big Island and Back (BIAB) Nordic Ski Dash with 25 friends <br />and a volunteer groomer. We will be holding the fourth public version of the event and expect <br />over 200 participants on January 28th, 2017. In 2014, we moved to Orono and bought a house <br />on Lafayette Bay. Since then, I travel about once a week via skis, snowshoes, flat tire bike, <br />canoe, kayak, Yak Trax or SUP out to Big Island and explore. I am amazed at what a great place <br />it is and how few people, especially in the winter, ever visit. <br />PROPOSAL <br />We are proposing that the event, BIAB, create a temporary groomed trail in the Orono Big <br />Island Nature Park along existing trails for public use for as long as it lasts. The goal would be to <br />test the feasibility of providing a ski trail around the island and into the park on a regular basis. <br />Initially, the trail would be a single wide classic pair of tracks, designed to be two way, with <br />minimal temporary signage provided by BIAB. This is NOT intended to be a part of the event. <br />OUTCOME <br />If the test run works, the desired outcome would be for the city of Orono to purchase a <br />groomer and maintain a trail using a tracked vehicle required by the city for grooming the dog <br />park. Ideally, BIAB could create and maintain groomed trails from various locations on the main <br />shoreline out to a trail around the island. <br />NEXT STEPS <br />I have read through the entire November 2011 Big Island Park Management Plan, including the <br />city ordinance and MCWD easement. Based on those documents, this appears to be an activity <br />that would be compatible with both. If Park Commission would be willing to consider this <br />option, BIAB will take on all responsibility for the 2017 season, which would run approximately <br />from January 21 through February 12. <br />Thanks for your consideration <br />Rick Carter, Race Director BIAB and Orono resident <br />612.385.5182 <br />