November 21, 2006
For a few minutes Thursday evening, Buck Swaney got up on his soapbox & or rather a plastic toolchest & to emphasize the theme of an hour's worth of discussion: Those who use Tooele County trails need to be responsible.
Swaney, a planning consultant who works for Bear West Consulting, was speaking in the south auditorium of the Tooele County Courthouse at a public hearing organized as part of Tooele County's efforts to create a county trail system. Those in attendance & largely Boy Scout leaders, ATV users, horseback riders and hikers & expressed concern over an increased number of gates, fences and even trenches blocking access to trails old-timers remember using for generations. They were countered by a small, less-vocal group of landowners adamant about protecting their private-property rights.
In the spirit of finding a way to keep public lands open, many of the recreationists emphasized that their fellow riders needed to show more respect for the environment & and report those who abuse it. They also suggested a better mapping system and trail markers to keep people on the right paths and off private property.
"It's a great start," said Tooele City resident Evan Smith. "I'm just glad we're studying it out. Salt Lake County's already running out of room but we still have room over here."
A member of Backcountry Horsemen, Smith showed up at the meeting because he feels that as Tooele grows it needs a carefully mapped-out trails plan or "we're going to be fighting over every square inch."
[full article]
For a few minutes Thursday evening, Buck Swaney got up on his soapbox & or rather a plastic toolchest & to emphasize the theme of an hour's worth of discussion: Those who use Tooele County trails need to be responsible.
Swaney, a planning consultant who works for Bear West Consulting, was speaking in the south auditorium of the Tooele County Courthouse at a public hearing organized as part of Tooele County's efforts to create a county trail system. Those in attendance & largely Boy Scout leaders, ATV users, horseback riders and hikers & expressed concern over an increased number of gates, fences and even trenches blocking access to trails old-timers remember using for generations. They were countered by a small, less-vocal group of landowners adamant about protecting their private-property rights.
In the spirit of finding a way to keep public lands open, many of the recreationists emphasized that their fellow riders needed to show more respect for the environment & and report those who abuse it. They also suggested a better mapping system and trail markers to keep people on the right paths and off private property.
"It's a great start," said Tooele City resident Evan Smith. "I'm just glad we're studying it out. Salt Lake County's already running out of room but we still have room over here."
A member of Backcountry Horsemen, Smith showed up at the meeting because he feels that as Tooele grows it needs a carefully mapped-out trails plan or "we're going to be fighting over every square inch."
[full article]
