I want to share the comment below to the bike advocate groups I know, and I'd like to request your help supporting the youth of Minnetonka that spearheaded this project with help from MORC. The comment was posted on Next Door and many of the comments are a disheartening, but not surprising in the least. Please contact Kelly O’Dea (Recreation Services Director, kodea@eminnetonka.com, 952-939-8360) to voice your support for these new trails. Thank you!
For my history, I grew up in Minnetonka about a mile from Big Willow. I was riding horseback in Big Willow in the early 1970s. As I grew older, I loved exploring the natural trails by bike and foot. In 2005, I moved back to Minnetonka about 4 miles from Big Willow. I bike Big Willow all year round, there's nothing better than cold winter ride along the banks of the Minnehaha.
I also walk these trails with my dogs. I've had nothing but positive interactions with other park users. I can hardly say how excited I am to have quality single-track trails so close to home! I look forward to volunteering with trail maintenance and other duties with these new trails.
Here is the text of the post on Next Door:
"To all of my walking buddies and those who appreciate a quiet place to be with nature!
I saw an article in the Sun Sailor (see attachment) recently stating that Minnetonka was adding 2 new bike trails in 2018. As I love biking, I read the article only to discover that they are considering putting 3 miles of off road mountain bike trails in Big Willow Park. I was devastated. Big Willow is the only place you can walk/jog on the east end of Mtka. without being next to cars or fast bikes. It is such a beautiful treasure in the middle of suburbia – the Minnehaha Creek flows through it and there is an abundance of wildlife and natural resources.
Brad and I attended the community meeting at Mtka. City Hall last night where the Vantage Group presented their proposal to the park board and city council. Of course, there were many people who got up to speak in favor of the project as they were the reason the meeting was called in the first place. Many residents of Minnetonka are not even aware that these bike trails are being proposed for Big Willow. Supporters were complaining that Theodore Wirth was the closest park with off road biking and it wasn’t always convenient to get there/drive their kids there. It sounded like the board was agreeing that this would be a good addition to our park system. Finally, toward the end of the meeting a few residents got up and expressed their concerns about changing the ambience and tranquility of the park, along with doing damage to restoration efforts that are being done in Big Willow. One botanist had written a very factual letter that was read at the meeting stating the reasons that off road biking would be very detrimental to the work that they are doing in Big Willow. There are some bike clubs that would like to have trails in Mtka. – which led to the parking issue as there are only about 6-8 parking spots for Big Willow Park. There were suggestions made by opponents of other areas in the city that would not be negatively impacted and were not areas that Minnetonka was working to restore natural vegetation. The 494 corridor and areas around city hall were brought up for consideration.
Brad and I talked to a few park board members who were changing their tune about support of the project after listening to some of the residents speak. They were beginning to understand that we see Big Willow as a very unique environment within a suburb that needs to be protected. They recommended that we contact as many people as possible and have them send an e-mail or call:
Kelly O’Dea
Recreation Services Director
kodea@eminnetonka.com
952-939-8360
If the beauty and tranquility of Big Willow are important to you, please contact Kelly and let your voice be heard. Obviously, it’s close to my heart as I have been walking in Big Willow since 1980 and love having a nature area so close to home. Michael did his Eagle project of soil erosion control along the creek in Big Willow. Nicole worked for the city of Mtka. 2 summers ago as a tree inspector and frequently worked in Big Willow. She taught us so much about the importance of the natural plants in that area. Mountain bikes are loud and fast – and unfortunately, many mountain bikers don’t stick to the path or widen the path, destroying more of the natural landscape and causing problems such as erosion and opportunity for invasive species to take over.
Please pass this on to anyone you think would be interested. Thanks for your support."
I saw an article in the Sun Sailor (see attachment) recently stating that Minnetonka was adding 2 new bike trails in 2018. As I love biking, I read the article only to discover that they are considering putting 3 miles of off road mountain bike trails in Big Willow Park. I was devastated. Big Willow is the only place you can walk/jog on the east end of Mtka. without being next to cars or fast bikes. It is such a beautiful treasure in the middle of suburbia – the Minnehaha Creek flows through it and there is an abundance of wildlife and natural resources.
Brad and I attended the community meeting at Mtka. City Hall last night where the Vantage Group presented their proposal to the park board and city council. Of course, there were many people who got up to speak in favor of the project as they were the reason the meeting was called in the first place. Many residents of Minnetonka are not even aware that these bike trails are being proposed for Big Willow. Supporters were complaining that Theodore Wirth was the closest park with off road biking and it wasn’t always convenient to get there/drive their kids there. It sounded like the board was agreeing that this would be a good addition to our park system. Finally, toward the end of the meeting a few residents got up and expressed their concerns about changing the ambience and tranquility of the park, along with doing damage to restoration efforts that are being done in Big Willow. One botanist had written a very factual letter that was read at the meeting stating the reasons that off road biking would be very detrimental to the work that they are doing in Big Willow. There are some bike clubs that would like to have trails in Mtka. – which led to the parking issue as there are only about 6-8 parking spots for Big Willow Park. There were suggestions made by opponents of other areas in the city that would not be negatively impacted and were not areas that Minnetonka was working to restore natural vegetation. The 494 corridor and areas around city hall were brought up for consideration.
Brad and I talked to a few park board members who were changing their tune about support of the project after listening to some of the residents speak. They were beginning to understand that we see Big Willow as a very unique environment within a suburb that needs to be protected. They recommended that we contact as many people as possible and have them send an e-mail or call:
Kelly O’Dea
Recreation Services Director
kodea@eminnetonka.com
952-939-8360
If the beauty and tranquility of Big Willow are important to you, please contact Kelly and let your voice be heard. Obviously, it’s close to my heart as I have been walking in Big Willow since 1980 and love having a nature area so close to home. Michael did his Eagle project of soil erosion control along the creek in Big Willow. Nicole worked for the city of Mtka. 2 summers ago as a tree inspector and frequently worked in Big Willow. She taught us so much about the importance of the natural plants in that area. Mountain bikes are loud and fast – and unfortunately, many mountain bikers don’t stick to the path or widen the path, destroying more of the natural landscape and causing problems such as erosion and opportunity for invasive species to take over.
Please pass this on to anyone you think would be interested. Thanks for your support."
