FDR Hyde Park trails: COMMENT PERIOD ENDS FEB 28

[slave2bacon]

The National Park Service is seeking public views on a proposed plan to give civic organizations a bigger role in developing programs at the Roosevelt-Vanderbilt National Historical Sites.

The master plan for the FDR estate includes "The promotion of compatible recreational use of trails, providing multi-use trail links among the sites and improving river connections at Roosevelt Cove and Bard Rock."

Sounds like something we could help with.

http://dailyfreeman.com/articles/2010/02/10/news/doc4b723ca47b121238289151.txt

[Tim845]

Sounds like something we have to work with!

"A Message from the Superintendent:

Once in a generation, every park and historic site in the National Park System revises its long-range plan, called a general management plan. In Hyde Park, New York, three national historic sites are managed together: The Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt, Eleanor Roosevelt's Val-Kill, and Vanderbilt Mansion, known together as the Roosevelt-Vanderbilt National Historic Sites. The National Park Service is undertaking one planning effort for all three sites, which will consider how best to preserve these properties, and how to improve the experience for visitors over the long term.

The National Park Service's core mission of preserving America's treasures unimpaired for future generations is as challenging as it is compelling. Each generation inherits only what the previous generation chose to protect, yet each also leaves its own mark, adding a new layer of history. The historic resources of the Roosevelt-Vanderbilt National Historic Sites will always be significant. As each new generation embraces these special places and their stories, new perspectives will emerge, changing the way we interpret and treat the resources.

The types of issues that the long-range plan will consider include:
 What level and extent of resource preservation treatment is desirable and appropriate to portray the historic condition of the properties?
 As the Roosevelt era becomes more distant in time, there are fewer visitors with a connection to that time who come to the national historic sites. How can the park resources and stories be made relevant to new generations of visitors?
 How can the parks work with partners to garner resources to enhance capacity for operations and services?

Your involvement is vital to this multi-year planning effort. Roosevelt-Vanderbilt National Historic Sites have a large constituency, locally, nationally, and even internationally; and we value your input.

Sincerely,


Sarah Olson
Superintendent
Contact Information
Sarah Olson
Superintendent
Roosevelt-Vanderbilt National Historic Sites
4079 Albany Post Road
Hyde Park, NY 12538

(845) 229-9116 phone
(845) 229-7115 fax"
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Pedal, b*tches!!

[burtondogs]

It is good to see something is happening.

[Tim845]

Here's a link to the document, PLEASE RESPOND!!!:
http://parkplanning.nps.gov/commentForm.cfm?parkID=265&projectID=13646&documentId=30639
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Pedal, b*tches!!

[GoneToTheDogs?]

It's great to see some work being done on the EIS and Long range Planning Document. Lots to think about. Some of the suggestions could be centered around volunteerism to enhance community access and recreation; linkage to other local community parks and land trusts; access to/from Walkway Over the Hudson; Greenway; health benefits; benefits to youth perhaps including Mr. Frames Haviland Middle School bike club etc.

There is a lot of information to be reviewed in the General Master Plan and the EIS. http://parkplanning.nps.gov/document.cfm?parkId=265&projectId=13646&documentID=30639

I did notice that the GMP discusses:

Appropriate Kinds and Levels of Visitor Activities
Visitor education would take place in this zone, as would guided and self-guided tours of the landscape and special programs related to historic land uses and activities. Non-motorized recreational activities on designated trails, such as hiking, biking, and cross-country skiing, would be permitted. Visitors are likely to experience low to moderate visitor density and should expect to have periodic encounters with other visitors, especially on Roosevelt Farm Lane and other segments of the Hyde Park Trail.

Action Alternative Two (preferred alternative) says:
Recreational use of trails would be actively promoted, provided the uses
support resource management objectives. With partners, the parks would offer tours and interpretive programming, possibly via bicycle, extended hikes, cross country skiing, and other active means that allow visitors to learn about the park themes. The parks’ trail system would be upgraded and improved by adding new trail segments to form loops with historic trails, connecting to pathways outside park boundaries, and developing new trails in select locations to support interpretation. With partners, a continuous multi-use trail would be established to link the park sites.

[Ranger Danger]

Comment sent.

We've been waiting for this for a while now. Not only is this trail system in a great location for after work rides for a lot of riders, it sees use by all kinds of people and has the potential to bring new riders to the sport. Send a comment before 2/28!
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Chicks dig guys who do authorized trail work.

[slave2bacon]

Sent.

The section of the GMP/EIS that deals with trail use is on pg. 72 of Part 2 (there are lots of nice maps too).

In your comments consider asking when historic mountain bike trails will be open to bike use. The members of Fats in the Cats have worked with the NPS before and our members are interested in getting involved in the future as a partner with the Park. Also, addition of multi-use trails leading to the Hudson River would be an excellent addition to the park and would be very well received by the community. The local mountain bike community can be counted on to build or maintain multi-use trails within the Park.

[GoneToTheDogs?]

Apparently there has been some confusion about riding on the NPS land in Hyde Park. Following is a letter as a refresher from the NPS from last year (February 2009). The letter outlines which trails are open/closed and also discusses the process for review. The process is moving as they had promised. The Comment Period for the Draft Master Plan ends on Feb 28, 2010. Follow the link on the Homepage to voice support for Alternative 2.
http://www.fatsinthecats.com/?p=333

Thanks,

Russell

From Feb 2009:
An Open Letter to Fats in the Cats Members
Re: Roosevelt Farm Lane
Dear FITC Members,

March 1st fast approaches and soon Roosevelt Farm Lane will reopen to bicycling.

However, we have been informed by our legal division that in order to open any other trails to bicycle use, special regulations must be written and enacted. This procedure is per Federal regulation (36 CFR 4.30) and is the policy of Department of Interior; it is not a local decision.

Therefore I regret to inform you that bicycles will no longer be permitted on any other National Park Service trails except the main Roosevelt Farm Lane (marked with Hyde Park Trail tulip-tree leaf markers). All other trails, including the marked white, yellow, and blue trails, will remain closed to bicycle use until further notice.

Te main Roosevelt Farm Lane is a park road in a developed area, which enables us to open it to bicycle use. None of the other trails fit this description.

We will attempt to have the special regulations promulgated. We have been advised that it could take as long as two years after environmental compliance is completed before a new regulation is adopted. For background on this issue, I would suggest you visit the IMBA website that has a concise summary of the NPS regulatory process:
http://www.imba.com/resources/agencies/nps_trail_steps.html

The primary way we are going to address this issue is to prepare a “Multimodal Trail Master Plan”, which will address all trail uses at the Home of FDR, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Sites. We are hopeful that this effort will begin in 2009 pending confirmation of funding status.

You may be aware that in 2008 the Department of Interior proposed changing this rule to give more authority to local park Superintendents who wish to pursue opening trails to bicycle use. The public comment period on this proposed rule change recently closed. However, we cannot presume any change will be approved, and we will proceed accordingly with the special regulation route. Even if this rule is eventually changed it would likely be at a year or more before it would be implemented nationwide, and environmental compliance will still be required.

I realize that this will be a disappointment, and apologize for the fact that we did not understand all the regulatory issues earlier. However, we are committed to moving forward and appreciate your patience and understanding. Should you have any questions contact David Hayes at (845) 229-1521. Thank you.

Sincerely,
Sarah Olson
Superintendent