Bond could help expand trailheads across El Paso
Oct 27, 2012 (Menafn - El Paso Times - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) --The Lost Dog Trailhead will receive drought-tolerant trees today that are expected to shade hikers and mountain bikers for decades to come.
Located off Redd Road just north of Helen of Troy Drive, the trailhead provides an entryway to a network of trails weaving through arroyos and along ridges in the Franklin Mountains' western foothills.
The Borderland Mountain Bike Association is hosting a bike ride beginning at 10 a.m. A noon dedication will be followed by the club's annual picnic and the public is invited, said Dave Wilson, the association president.
"That's one of the trailheads that's been around for a long time," said Jim Tolbert, West Texas Urban Forestry Council president-elect. "It connects with other trails
and it goes right through one of the arroyos on the Northwest Master Plan."
Tolbert, also a city Open Space Advisory Board member, said the trailhead and others identified as priorities provide access to the state park and city open space.
"As we start to build up around the mountain, you start to cut off access," said Rick Bonart, a mountain bike association member.
The trailhead could benefit from 2 million dedicated in one of the "quality of life" bonds that voters will approve or reject in the Nov. 6 election.
Bonart, who also is a Public Service Board member, said there should have been more money for parks and recreation in the bond. "The emphasis continues to be on the ballpark and the cement," he
said.
The bond money would be used on trail improvements, said Marci Tuck, the city's Open Space, Trails and Parks coordinator.
"This is important based on a couple of different citizen polls indicating that walking and hiking is one of the top recreational activities El Pasoans want to do," Tuck said. "With this bond money, we could build more trails in areas that don't have any, as well as provide official access into the (Franklin Mountains) State Park and other public lands."
Tuck said the city provided "doggie doo" mitts and a trash can.
But it was local groups that funded the Lost Dog improvements.
The mountain bike association provided parking, including handicapped access, and the forestry council secured a 500 grant to purchase the honey mesquite trees.
Chris Roberts may be reached at chrisr@elpasotimes.com; 546-6136. Follow him on Twitter @4estate
"With this bond money, we could build more trails in areas that don't have any ...."
Marci Tuck
City Open Space, Trails and Parks coordinator
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