TONIGHT, Bettendorf Parks Public Input 5pm-7

[ew_perry]

The City of Bettendorf is excited to invite the public to kick-off the Forest Grove Road Area Park planning effort and weigh in on the future of this important 100-acre landscape along Spencer Creek, just south of Interstate 80, and just east of Middle Road. An open house will be held from 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. on Tuesday, February 21 in the Banquet Room, at the Herbert D. Goettsch Community Center, 2204 Grant Street. At approximately

5:30 p.m., the park’s master plan will be the subject of a brief presentation, but the intent of the open house is to hear from the public.



What do you want to see at this park? How can this park help shape the future of our vibrant community? How can the Forest Grove Road Area Park set Bettendorf apart and improve your quality of life? These are the kinds of questions the City’s asking at this open house. Please come with ideas and energy for this exciting project.



Refreshments will be served. Children are welcome. The event is free and will include a variety of ways for you to let your voice be heard.

[ew_perry]

A few weeks ago I attended a meeting where I shared with them some information about our club and mountain biking. The notes they took away from the 30 minutes are below. They are fairly accurate. :)

Bike
Time: 2:00 – 2:30 PM
Present: Eric Perry QC FORC Ew_perry@hotmail.com
Laura Kessel RDG Planning & Design lkessel@rdgusa.com
Discussion:
6. See Exhibit B provided by Eric Perry summarizing examples of bike park features and mountain biking trail plans/design
techniques.
7. FORC background
A. FORC has been around for 15 years as an advocate for off-road cycling. One of their main efforts is to get cross
country trails built. They have gotten 30 miles of trails built in Moline, Davenport and the Scott County Forest
Preserve.
i. The trails they typically build are single track, natural surface trails for hiking and biking. They do
sometimes share trails with equestrian uses, but this shared use tends to have more conflict potential
as Mr. Perry notes that the horses tend to be tough on the durability of the cross country trails. Their
group is not aware of any conflicts between bikers/hikers.
ii. The trails they build are intended to be fairly low maintenance, durable and smooth. The cost is
typically $30,000/mile.
B. FORC has 55 paying members, but approximately another 50 people who are unpaid “members.”
C. FORC prides itself in developing relationships with various park providers to get trails built.
D. FORC has talked about partnering with the Cornbelt trail running group.
8. Forest Grove Park
A. There are no cross country trails in Bettendorf and the terrain looks like it could be interesting for cross country
trails at this park.
i. Four to ten miles of cross country trails is a good length for cross country trails. It takes about 2-3
hours to ride 8-10 miles of trails. Mountain bikers will travel 2-3 hours to get to a destination that
has 8-10 miles of trails.
B. This park site could be a nice location for cross country trails and/or a bike park as it has good access to the
interstate.
C. FORC sees this park as an ideal location for a bike park with a dirt jump and skills area.
i. The closest bike park is in Plainfield (Chicago area).
ii. A dirt jump area has wood or dirt constructed jumps/obstacles that range from simple to more
challenging jumps. This can be integrated into flat areas or wooded areas. FORC sees this as a use
that could be designed with nearby seating for parents.
iii. A skills area has a series of small technical trail features. This type of use is often integrated into a
wooded area. FORC is currently working with Scott County Park to incorporate some technical trail
features into the park there.
iv. FORC sees the bike park concept as a good use at this park due to its appeal to young adults as well
as the ability for parents to supervise/help their children learn off-road bicycling skills.