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Exhibit B. <br /> <br />DRAFT <br /> Park Commission Statement <br /> <br />There has been public discussion on social media about the City of Orono and activities within the City’s <br />parks, specifically, Bederwood Park and Lowry Woods. The Park Commission wants to provide some <br />clarity on those matters. <br /> <br />1) Everyone on the Park Commission understands the importance and duty to preserve and protect <br />Orono’s natural areas, including the precious Big Woods located in our community. All <br />commission recommendations and activities are consistent with these values. <br /> <br />2) The Park Commission meetings are open to the public. Commission discussions and <br />recommendations about parks occurs at public meetings and are a matter of public record. The <br />videos and minutes of the meetings are available online. <br /> <br />3) Because the Parks Commission is an advisory group, we do not make any decisions about parks – <br />only recommendations to the Council and City. <br /> <br />4) Orono routinely partners with youth organizations to make improvements to our park amenities <br />and to promote responsible use by all community youth and adults. These organizations include <br />the mountain bike team, soccer club, baseball and softball associations, lacrosse club, football <br />association, rowing club, hockey associations, scouts, etc. Partnership with these community <br />organizations for the betterment of our parks and their enjoyment of them as residents, is a key <br />component to maintaining and managing our park space for the entire community. <br /> <br />5) Lowry Woods: Last autumn, the City’s Park Commission had an informal discussion with the <br />Orono Mountain Bike Team to consider their request to use the Lowry Woods trails for mountain <br />bike practice. The Commission recommended the team reach out to park neighbors and gauge <br />neighborhood support for such a use prior to moving the idea forward formally. It was determined <br />that bicycle access into the park was not suitable for the team. No further action is planned at this <br />time. <br /> <br />Still, the Commission believes access to Lowry Woods – for any user - is inadequate. The <br />property is nearly surrounded by private property. And, the natural terrain adds other access <br />challenges. The Commission will continue to explore options to provide improved access to this <br />beautiful natural park for all residents. <br /> <br />6) Bederwood Park: In Spring 2021, the Commission recommended, and the City Council passed a <br />resolution, allowing the Orono Mountain Bike Team to use a portion of Bederwood Park to <br />conduct skill training for their youngest riders. The approval allows the team to use existing grass <br />and dirt pathways and to make minor improvements (clear deadfall, leaves and debris from the <br />ground) creating a dirt pathway in the undeveloped areas of the park. <br /> <br />7) At both Lowry Woods and at Bederwood, the Commission does not have any plan to: <br />a. Take/condemn private property <br />b. Permit the removal or cutting down of healthy trees in protected park woodlands