Archive for Friday, May 16, 2008
Bike paths proposed at Wells Overlook
May 16, 2008
Advertisement
Wells Overlook Park may become favorite destination for area mountain bike enthusiasts
A proposal to build bike trails on the Southwest corner of the park was presented to the Douglas County Commission. Enlarge video
Andrew McKee had been searching for a good site to build mountain bike trails when the observation tower on top of Wells Overlook Park beckoned in the distance.
“I’ve been kicking it around in the back of my head for about a year,” the Kansas University junior from Lawrence said. “It was just a matter of trying to find the right place.”
A few months ago, McKee approached Douglas County leaders about establishing a mountain bike course at the park. Members of the KU Cycling Club and the Lawrence Mountain Bike Club were interested, said McKee, a member of both. Earlier this week, a formal proposal for building the trails along the southwest corner of the park and then maintaining them at no cost to the county was presented to Douglas County commissioners.
They were generally supportive.
“I like the idea of Wells Overlook becoming more of a public-friendly environment,” Commission Chairman Bob Johnson said.
Local bicyclists already maintain and use trails at Clinton Lake and along the Kansas River. But those trails aren’t conducive for those who want to practice the “gravity-oriented” biking that mountain bikers favor. That’s the attraction of Wells Overlook, which is 2 miles south of Lawrence on Douglas County Road 458.
“It’s a big hill, and it’s close to town,” McKee said. “There is a road to the top so it’s easy for people to drive up to the top and ride back down.”
The trails can be built to minimize erosion, McKee said. “We have a pretty experienced trail crew,” he said. The trails will be built in stages.
Commissioners authorized the county administrator’s office to negotiate an agreement with the bike clubs that will address liability and maintenance issues.
The clubs and the county also consulted with Ken Lassman, whose grandfather donated the park land to the county in 1971.
“I think the mountain bike community in this area has a good record in building and maintaining trails,” Lassman said. “We think it will draw people to the beauty of the park, and we’re all for that. That’s what the whole goal of the park is.”
Top ads RSS
- Get on Board! Now training School Bus Drivers and Attendants! ...
- ATTENTION EARLY BIRDS... Are you enthusiastic about making people smile ...
- Full time Guest Service Agent 2nd Shift Part time Guest ...
- MWI Veterinary Supply Co. seeks warehouse workers to pick/pack/ship in ...
- KU Continuing Education
Marketplace
Arts & Entertainment · Bars · Theatres · Restaurants · Coffeehouses · Libraries · Antiques · Services
- Businesses say 23rd and Iowa repaving project hurting their bottom line July 8, 2008 · 25 comments
- Radical founders July 8, 2008 · 100 comments
- Police outline events of killing July 7, 2008 · 79 comments
- Barbecue joint ready to move into old Bucky's location July 7, 2008 · 111 comments
- $4 gas comes to town July 8, 2008 · 14 comments
- Study: Military gays don’t undermine cohesion July 8, 2008 · 15 comments
- Douglas County commissioners considering mill increase in 2009 budget July 7, 2008 · 18 comments
- Fall surprise? July 7, 2008 · 139 comments
- Motorists, cyclists share responsibility July 6, 2008 · 131 comments
- Weblog: Backyard Fence Blog: 2 b continued here and now! May 21, 2008 · 424 comments
- Police outline events of killing July 7, 2008
- Window peeper on Tennessee Street reported July 8, 2008
- A dandy pro debut July 8, 2008
- Two questioned in connection with crime spree, police chases in Jefferson County July 8, 2008
- Barbecue joint ready to move into old Bucky's location July 7, 2008
- Scientists: Watermelon yields Viagra-like effects July 7, 2008
- City plan affects 3,000 rentals July 8, 2008
- Doctors recommend cholesterol drugs for some 8-year-olds July 7, 2008
- Communication camp helps youngsters learn self-expression July 7, 2008
- Bush has dug a deep hole for the nation July 3, 2008
16 May 2008 at 8:07 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
smitty (Anonymous) says…
But…will this interfere with the current users of the Phallic park? AKA… At Your Own Risk as advertised internationally in the gay travelogues?
16 May 2008 at 8:26 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
HighScore (Anonymous) says…
By “gravity oriented” are you referring to “free-ride” or “black diamond” trails?
Sounds like fun, where do I sign up?
16 May 2008 at 8:38 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
blue73harley (Anonymous) says…
Suggested name - “Brokeback Mountain Trail”.
16 May 2008 at 9:04 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
SettingTheRecordStraight (Anonymous) says…
And who's going to pay for the bicyclists' special interest? Taxpayers.
Don't be fools. Reject public funding for such amenities which benefit the very few.
16 May 2008 at 9:07 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
just_another_bozo_on_this_bus (Anonymous) says…
Yes, before you support funding for anything, make sure it benefits STRS, and STRS only.
16 May 2008 at 9:23 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
smitty (Anonymous) says…
Good one blue! Latex not spandex, the park motto?
16 May 2008 at 9:35 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
Haiku_Cuckoo (Anonymous) says…
And who's going to pay for the bicyclists' special interest? Taxpayers.
=======
Actually the third paragraph states that they would be built and maintained at no cost to the county.
16 May 2008 at 11:42 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
ralphralph (Anonymous) says…
Ben Dover Memorial Trail
16 May 2008 at 12:01 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
beobachter (Anonymous) says…
smitty, do you spend a lot of time viewing gay travelogues? inquiring minds want to know.
16 May 2008 at 1:57 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
smitty (Anonymous) says…
Actually I didn't realize they(books not gays) existed until a few years ago when I questioned why the county was closing down the rest rooms at the riverside and lookout parks. It was at that time that a gay boy asked “what's the big deal? These parks have been in the travelogues for years as AYOR cruising parks for men.” So I went to Borders and visited the gay boy section. Amazing, them there books, amazing.
I now assume the latex gloves at Burcham Park were left there by the guys walking around in the wooded areas, too. The travelouges didn't specify these findings though.
Get a room, boys!!
Will this answer lead to a troll bait question of “do I frequent gay boy parks?” In quiring minds want to know? Really!!
16 May 2008 at 2:14 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
Andini (Anonymous) says…
Nice Ralph but I'd prefer Ben Doverall Drive.
just sayin'
16 May 2008 at 3:25 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
jayhawkrider (Anonymous) says…
I grew up in Lawrence and road in Houston, TX for years at a park that was frequently used by men seeking men and some homeless folks. When the mountain bike trails were built, the other behavior diminished significantly due to all of the traffic. You might be pleasantly surprised about putting in trails at Wells Overlook. Just awesome to hear that the land managers are that accepting of trails. That's definitely not always the case in other parts of the country!
16 May 2008 at 3:37 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
blue73harley (Anonymous) says…
I do want to add that I think the trails are a good idea and agree with jayhawkrider in that it will only improve the park.