{"id":170007974,"date":"2010-05-22T16:26:14","date_gmt":"2010-05-22T16:26:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.baltimorespokes.org\/?p=170007974"},"modified":"2010-05-22T16:26:14","modified_gmt":"2010-05-22T16:26:14","slug":"park-and-trail-supporters-the-lake-frank-trail-needs-your-urgent-support","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.baltimorespokes.org\/?p=170007974","title":{"rendered":"Park and Trail Supporters: The Lake Frank Trail needs your urgent support!"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><b>Update: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baltimorespokes.org\/article.php?story=20100616101804156\">https:\/\/www.baltimorespokes.org\/article.php?story=20100616101804156<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>An <b>important planned trail<\/b> that will connect the<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/bikewashington.org\/trails\/rockcreek\/md.htm\">Rock Creek Trail<\/a> to<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/findlakes.com\/lake_frank_maryland%7Emd00050.htm\">Lake Frank<\/a><br \/>\nis in jeopardy due to nearby homeowner opposition.  This paved trail will be a<br \/>\nsuperb amenity that will greatly improve access to the lake, provide family recreational<br \/>\nopportunities and serve as a high quality bikeway.  The trail will also be an important<br \/>\npiece of the future <a href=\"#notrail\">North Olney Trail<\/a> that will link the Rock Creek Trail<br \/>\nto Olney five miles away, helping the <a href=\"https:\/\/savecarbon.org\/activity_form\/walkride\">environment<\/a> by<br \/>\nsupporting bike transportation instead of driving.  But a group of neighbors who live<br \/>\nadjacent to Lake Frank is vociferously opposing the trail based on its proximity to<br \/>\ntheir homes, a problem we face all too often when new trails are built.  To stop the trail<br \/>\nthey are attempting to take away its state funding.<\/p>\n<h3>What You Can Do<\/h3>\n<p><!--more--><br \/>\nPlease send e-mails supporting the Lake Frank Trail to:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Neil Pedersen, chief administrator of the State Highway Administration &#8211;<br \/>\n<a href=\"mailto:npedersen@sha.state.md.us\">npedersen@sha.state.md.us<\/a><\/li>\n<li>The Montgomery County Planning Board &#8211; <a href=\"mailto:mcp-chair@mncppc-mc.org\">mcp-chair@mncppc-mc.org<\/a><\/li>\n<li>The Montgomery County Council &#8211; <a href=\"mailto:county.council@montgomerycountymd.gov\">county.council@montgomerycountymd.gov<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Your Maryland state delegates and senator if you can, especially if you live upcounty.  Find your elected officials using <a href=\"https:\/\/mdelect.net\">MdSelect.net<\/a>.  Then go to the<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdarchives.state.md.us\/msa\/mdmanual\/05sen\/html\/sen.html\">Senate page<\/a> or<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdarchives.state.md.us\/msa\/mdmanual\/06hse\/html\/hse.html\">House page<\/a> for contact info.\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Key Points<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Tell them you support the Lake Frank connector trail (or Lake Frank Trail)<\/li>\n<li>Tell them the trail should be paid for as planned, using ICC Environmental Stewardship funds<\/li>\n<li>Tell them why you enjoy trails or give any other personal thoughts<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Sample Letter<\/h3>\n<p style=\"margin-left: 20px;\"><i>(It&#8217;s helpful to add your own comments and personal perspective, such as why you use trails\u2026)<\/i><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-left: 20px;\">To Mr. Neil Pedersen  <i>[or other recipient]<\/i>:\n<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-left: 20px;\">I strongly support construction of the hard-surface Lake Frank Trail connecting the Rock Creek Trail to Lake Frank.  I ask that it be built as soon as possible, and that it use state ICC stewardship funds as currently planned.  I am a park user and will certainly benefit from this trail.  The trail will be an important part of the countywide bikeway network and will support more trips by bike instead of by car.  Please move the project forward.  Thank you.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-left: 20px;\"><i>[signed, your name and city\/community]<\/i><\/p>\n<h3>Additional Background<\/h3>\n<p>\nOpponents of the Lake Frank Trail first tried to <a href=\"#connector\">reroute the trail<\/a> to a much inferior location that would be farther from their homes. Having failed at that, they are now seeking to take away state funding already allocated for the trail. The state funds are provided by the ICC environmental stewardship program that&#8217;s paying for many projects including trails. Opponents are pushing to implement a parking lot removal project with the same funds so that no funds will be left for the trail. The parking lot project is worthwhile but is already slated to be done later and is not at risk. The trail is very much at risk due to neighborhood opposition.\n<\/p>\n<p>Neighbors are saying they were not directly notified of the county&#8217;s intention to<br \/>\nbuild the trail using ICC funds.  But there were numerous <a href=\"#news\">Gazette articles<\/a><br \/>\ntalking about the<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.montgomeryparks.org\/PPSD\/ParkTrails\/trail_planning\/upper_rockcreek\/documents\/urctcp_sept25_2008_web.pdf\"><br \/>\nUpper Rock Creek Trail Corridor Plan<\/a> as it was being developed, and that plan clearly states the county&#8217;s intention<br \/>\nto use ICC funds and consider a new alignment.\n<\/p>\n<p>We all respect the lake.  It is a more natural and uncrowded setting<br \/>\nthan Lake Needwood.  A single paved path passing through the<br \/>\nlake area is very consistent with that.<br \/>\nWe also support construction of a continuous natural surface trail around the<br \/>\nentire lake to ensure a hiking experience that for the most part stays away from<br \/>\nthe paved trail.<\/p>\n<p><i>Neighbors opposing the trail are using the slogan &#8220;Take Back Our Lake&#8221;.<br \/>\nBut we believe county parks belong to everyone and not just one community.<\/i><\/p>\n<h3>Index<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#news\">Gazette articles<\/a><br \/>\nand to the trail changes opposed by neighbors.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#docs\">Plans and documents<\/a> published by the county<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"mobike_printed_alert_after_mtg.pdf\">Printable flyer<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Maps<\/h3>\n<p>\n<a name=\"notrail\" id=\"notrail\"><\/a><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/wp.baltimorespokes.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/05\/page2_olney_trail_map.jpg\" alt=\"image\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The above map shows the full <b>North Olney Trail<\/b>.  It is the orange dotted<br \/>\nline starting roughly at the fork with the Rock Creek Trail (just south number &#8220;2&#8221;)<br \/>\nand ending at the number &#8220;7&#8221;.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>\n<a name=\"connector\" id=\"connector\"><\/a><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/wp.baltimorespokes.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/05\/page22_a_and_b_map.jpg\" alt=\"image\" \/>\n<\/p>\n<p>The above map shows the feasible route &#8220;B&#8221; embraced<br \/>\nby FHWA, the state and the county Parks Department.  It also shows the non-feasable route &#8220;A&#8221; requested by neighbors<br \/>\nliving on the streets shown.  There is also an alternative &#8220;N&#8221; (not shown) that the neighbors have<br \/>\nbeen supporting lately, but it is probably not a workable route due to length and tree cutting.<br \/>\nRoute &#8220;A&#8221; is not feasable because of considerably higher cost, rock cutting<br \/>\nand greater environmental impact (clearing, switchbacks).<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><a name=\"news\" id=\"news\"><\/a><\/p>\n<h3>Gazette Articles<\/h3>\n<p>\nThese articles focus on<br \/>\nthe Upper Rock Creek Trail Corridor Plan and most were written while the plan was being developed and public<br \/>\ninput was being taken.  The plan clearly states the county&#8217;s intention to use ICC funds to build the trail.<br \/>\nThe articles themselves actually note the change to the Lake Frank Trail alignment that neighbors say they were<br \/>\nunaware of.<br \/>\n<b>Question:<\/b><br \/>\nHow could community associations that back up to Rock Creek Park<br \/>\nbe so inattentive that they were<br \/>\nunaware of the development of the Upper Rock Creek Trail Corridor Plan despite all these articles in the county&#8217;s newspaper?<br \/>\nThe VP of the umbrella Montgomery County Civic Federation even attended one of the public meetings.<br \/>\nIn most counties, a Parks Department that publicizes a plan through press releases and sees<br \/>\nits verbiage<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.montgomeryparks.org\/PPSD\/ParkTrails\/trail_planning\/upper_rockcreek\/URCreek_index.shtm\">quoted verbatim<\/a><br \/>\nin several newspaper articles would consider its public notification responsibilites to have been fulfilled.<br \/>\n<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.gazette.net\/stories\/103107\/rocknew210357_32365.shtml\"><br \/>\nMixed views aired on Upper Rock Creek hiker-biker trail<\/a> (10\/31\/07)<br \/> &#8212;<br \/>\nExcerpt: <i><br \/>\nLast week, Department of Parks staff hosted a community meeting in Derwood to discuss and gather<br \/>\nsuggestions on the Upper Rock Creek Trail Corridor Plan. The meeting was the second of its kind; the first was held in May of last year. &#8230; Arnold Gordon, president of the Norbeck Meadows Civic Association in Olney and first vice president of the Montgomery County Civic Federation, expressed concern over the challenge course causing \u2018\u2018environmental degradation.\u201d  &#8230;<br \/>\nColeman said park staff tries to keep trails in designated park areas. She said if that cannot be accomplished because of environmentally sensitive areas or for other reasons, staff would create landscape buffers to separate the trails from residential properties. &#8230;<br \/>\nOthers, though, seemed supportive of extending trails into neighborhoods so that they would not have to drive to a park<br \/>\nin order to access the trails&#8230;<\/i><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.gazette.net\/stories\/062508\/gaitnew210103_32370.shtml\"><br \/>\nUpcounty trail gaps to be filled &#8212;<br \/>\nConnections will give hikers, bikers and riders a 30-mile path<\/a> (6\/26\/08) &#8212;<br \/>\nExcerpt: <i>The plan&#8217;s highlights include almost doubling the length of trails now available in the corridor,<br \/>\nendorsing the extension of a hard-surface trail from Rock Creek Regional Park to Olney, proposing a new<br \/>\nalternative to link the Rock Creek hiker-biker trail to the Lake Frank trail network in Derwood,<br \/>\ncreating a mountain bike challenge course at Carson Farm Special Park in Gaithersburg and adding<br \/>\nsigns about historic mill sites along the way.<\/i><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.gazette.net\/stories\/09102008\/rocknew210211_32476.shtml\"><br \/>\nPublic hearing set for Trail Corridor Plan &#8212;<br \/>\nMeeting to be held on Sept. 1<\/a> (9\/10\/08) &#8212;<br \/>\nExcerpt: <i>&#8230;proposing a new alternative to link the Rock Creek hiker-biker trail to the Lake Frank trail network in Derwood&#8230;<\/i><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.gazette.net\/stories\/09172008\/rocknew211557_32478.shtml\"><br \/>\nResidents urge board to fill out trail system<\/a> (9\/16\/08) &#8212;<br \/>\nExcerpt (repeating ourselves):<i> &#8230;providing a new alternative to link the Rock Creek hiker-biker trail to the Lake Frank trail network in Derwood&#8230;<\/i><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.gazette.net\/stories\/10012008\/rocknew204953_32479.shtml\"><br \/>\nPlanning Board approves trail corridor plan<\/a> (9\/30\/08) &#8212;<br \/>\nExcerpt (repeating ourselves again):<i> &#8230;providing a new alternative to link the Rock Creek hiker-biker trail to the Lake Frank trail network in Derwood&#8230;<\/i>\n<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><a name=\"docs\" id=\"docs\"><\/a><\/p>\n<h3>Documents<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>2008 Upper Rock Creek Trail Corridor Plan &#8211;<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.montgomeryparks.org\/PPSD\/ParkTrails\/trail_planning\/upper_rockcreek\/documents\/urctcp_sept25_2008_web.pdf\"><br \/>\nhttps:\/\/www.montgomeryparks.org\/PPSD\/ParkTrails\/trail_planning\/upper_rockcreek\/documents\/urctcp_sept25_2008_web.pdf<br \/>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The full <b>North Olney Trail<\/b> is shown on page 2 (and also on this web page).<\/li>\n<li><b>Lake Frank Trail<\/b> alternatives are shown on page 22 (and also on this web page).<\/li>\n<li>\n<b>Excerpt<\/b>:<br \/>\n<i>&#8220;Implementation Priorities: &#8230;<br \/>\nImplement the trail connection of Lake Frank and Lake Needwood as an ICC community<br \/>\nenhancement project&#8230;&#8221;<\/i>\n<\/li>\n<li>\nNote the <b>trail triangle<\/b> formed by the North Olney Trail, ICC Trail and Rock Creek Trail (all paved), which will facilitate direct<br \/>\ntravel from each trail to each of the other two (as well as provide an attractive trail loop).<\/li>\n<li><b>Trail Names<\/b> &#8212; We consider route &#8220;A&#8221; to be part of the Lake Frank Trail which runs along the east side of the lake.<br \/>\nThe Lake Frank Trail will be part of the North Olney Trail when it&#8217;s built.<br \/>\nIt&#8217;s largely semantics.<\/li>\n<li>This is <b>not<\/b> a master plan.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>2008 Countywide Park Trails Plan &#8211;<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.montgomeryparks.org\/PPSD\/ParkPlanning\/documents\/cwptp_sept08_web.pdf\"><br \/>\nhttps:\/\/www.montgomeryparks.org\/PPSD\/ParkPlanning\/documents\/cwptp_sept08_web.pdf<br \/>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>This is <b>not<\/b> a master plan.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<p><a name=\"contacts\" id=\"contacts\"><\/a><\/p>\n<h3>Other Contacts (FYI)<\/h3>\n<h4>Montgomery County Planning Board<\/h4>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.montgomeryplanningboard.org\/\">www.montgomeryplanningboard.org<\/a><br \/>\nDr. Royce Hanson, Chairman (<br \/>\n<a href=\"mailto:MCP-Chair@mncppc-mc.org\">MCP-Chair@mncppc-mc.org<\/a>)<br \/>\n301-495-4605 (phone)<br \/>\nThe Planning Board is an appointed board of five members that represents the Maryland National Capital Park and<br \/>\nPlanning Commission (M-NCPPC) in Montgomery County.  It heads up the Montgomery County<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.montgomeryplanning.org\/\">Planning Department<\/a> and the<br \/>\nMontgomery County <a href=\"https:\/\/www.montgomeryparks.org\/\">Parks Department<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h4>Donna Edwards, U.S. House of Representatives <br \/><\/h4>\n<p>See <a href=\"https:\/\/www.govtrack.us\/congress\/findyourreps.xpd?district=4&amp;state=MD\">contact info and district map<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h4>Montgomery County Executive<\/h4>\n<p>Isiah Leggett, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.montgomerycountymd.gov\/govtmpl.asp?url=\/content\/exec\/welcome.asp\">County Executive<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"mailto:ocemail@montgomerycountymd.gov\">ocemail@montgomerycountymd.gov<\/a><br \/>\n<br \/>Webpage is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.montgomerycountymd.gov\/govtmpl.asp?url=\/content\/exec\/welcome.asp\">here<\/a>.<br \/>\n<br \/>\n240-777-2500 (phone)<\/p>\n<h4>Maryland Governor<\/h4>\n<p>Martin O&#8217;Malley, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.state.md.us\/\">governor<\/a><br \/>\nEmail: <a href=\"mailto:governor@gov.state.md.us\">governor@gov.state.md.us<\/a><br \/>\n410-974-3901 (phone)<br \/>\n1-800-811-8336 (toll free)<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h4>Special mention&#8230;<\/h4>\n<p>We support the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.waba.org\">WABA (Washington Area Bicyclist Association)<\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>\nThis page sponsored by MoBike (Montgomery Bicycle Advocates) at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mobike.org\">www.mobike.org<\/a><br \/>\n<br \/>\nSend us an email at&#8230;<br \/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.internetigloo.com\/images\/webgecko1.gif\" alt=\"image\" style=\"text-align: center;\" \/><br \/>\n<br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/wp.baltimorespokes.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/05\/mobikelogo.gif\" height=\"160\" alt=\"image\" \/><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.internetigloo.com\/mobike\/lakefrank\/\">https:\/\/www.internetigloo.com\/mobike\/lakefrank\/<\/a>oldId.20100522162614788<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Update: https:\/\/www.baltimorespokes.org\/article.php?story=20100616101804156 An important planned trail that will connect the Rock Creek Trail to Lake Frank is in jeopardy due to nearby homeowner opposition. This paved trail will be a superb amenity that will greatly improve access to the lake, provide family recreational opportunities and serve as a high quality bikeway. The trail will also &hellip; <\/p>\n<p class=\"link-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/wp.baltimorespokes.org\/?p=170007974\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;Park and Trail Supporters: The Lake Frank Trail needs your urgent support!&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"1","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-170007974","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-bike-paths"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.baltimorespokes.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/170007974","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.baltimorespokes.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.baltimorespokes.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.baltimorespokes.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.baltimorespokes.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=170007974"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/wp.baltimorespokes.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/170007974\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.baltimorespokes.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=170007974"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.baltimorespokes.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=170007974"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.baltimorespokes.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=170007974"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}