Luton Park

Mountain bike riding at Luton Park is a pilot program for the wMMBA and Kent County Parks Department. After many years of submitting plans and ideas to Kent Co, the wMMBA was finally given permission to develop trails on the undeveloped land known as Luton Park.

Luton Park had a two-track trail approximately 1.5 miles long (the Blue Loop) and a small parking area near a barn on Kies Ave that was used by local friends, family and neighbors for many years prior to our arrival. One of the stipulations with the Parks Department was that the wMMBA would encourage and recommend to the riders that use the park that they not park at the barn on Kies Ave due to the fact it is too small for the amount of traffic impact we would place there. It would remain a “foot traffic only” parking area. This would also keep peace somewhat with the neighbors that are not pleased with the new activity at Luton Park.

Future plans do call for a parking lot to be built off Ten Mile Road. The current economic situation and major budget cuts have had a serious impact on the county and a parking lot could be years away.

Mountain bikers and cyclist in general have a poor reputation among many people. As with any pilot program, the actions of a few bad seeds can ruin it for all of us. The wMMBA has assured the county that we are a responsible user group and should be given a fair shot.

In the first season and a half of mountain biking at Luton Park it has been observed that many riders have disappointed the wMMBA, the County and the Luton neighbors. Many complaints have been made to the county via telephone, letter, or email including:

· Ignoring posted “No Parking Signs” on 10 Mile Road
· Ignoring requests to not park at the barn
· Ignoring posted “No Night Riding” signs
· Urinating in public
· Drinking alcohol on park property
· Littering energy wrappers and bike water bottles
· Fast riders being rude to hikers or slower bike riders
· Trespassing on park property before dawn or after dusk
· Illegally parking on a county roadway shoulder

Our actions at Luton Park will have a direct affect on the wMMBA’s progress with gaining access to other parkland in West Michigan currently be discussed including the City of Grand Rapids, City of Wyoming, City of Kentwood, Allegan County, Ottawa County and Newaygo County.

The wMMBA and its volunteers have over 1800 hours of labor and thousands of dollars invested in this multi-use trail system. It is currently recommended that riders park at D&W Plaza just 1-mile away and ride the wide road shoulder to and from the trailhead.
I would highly recommend those cyclists and hikers that are pleased that the county has opened this land to us that they write a letter or email thanking them for this great opportunity. Send letters to: Kent County Parks 1700 Butterworth SW Grand Rapids, MI 49534-7065, The Grand Rapids Press, or emails to: Roger Sabine at Roger.Sabine@kentcountymi.gov
Please spread the word and help us clean up our act. The future of mountain biking is in your hands.

Thanks!

Rick Plite
wMMBA President
Luton Park Trail Coordinator

Election Results for 2010 Board Members

Results of Election for 2010 Board Members are:
Vice President: Martin Hall
Treasurer: Dave Staublin
Secretary: Jason Schwab

Congratulations to our new Board Members and thank you to everyone who voted!

Annual Turkey Burner Ride

Once again this ride will be held on the Friday following Thanksgiving (November 27th, 2009) at the Deep Lake trailhead, Yankee Springs Recreation Area. Arrive in time to depart the parking lot at 10:00am+/- plan on riding for a of couple hours, then up to Middleville's "Champs Bar" for a bite to eat and a cold beer. Enjoy the holiday and the last organized WMMBA Ride of 2009. All levels are invited, as we will break into 2 or 3 groups depending on the speed and experience of those in attendance.Please pass this along to your friends and we'll see you for the Turkey Burner. RSVP not required, just show up and feel that turkey burn!

Link to voting site

Voting is now open for the 2010 Board positions of Secretary, Treasurer, and Vice President!

Please go to the voting site on SurveyMonkey.com (Click Here to take survey) before midnight on November 15^th to select your new board members. Winners will be announced at the December 7^th meeting, which is on the 2^nd floor of Mangiamos Restaurant, at 7 p.m.

Looking for Nominees to fill open positions

It is that time of year! We are looking for nominees to fill the positions of Secretary, Treasurer, and Vice President. Please send your nominations to: ricejennbud at yahoo dot see oh emm.
I will need to be able to contact the nominee to let them confirm their interest so please include an email or phone number for them.
Thank You,
Jennifer Bechtel
Secretary, Western MMBA

Brown Co Trip canceled

The trip for this weekend (10-23, 24, 25) has been canceled. Brown Co is expecting over and inch of rain tonight and another inch tomorrow with additional rain on Saturday. Highs in the forties.
Maybe next year.

Western trip to Brown Co..possibly canceled?

The weather looks wet and cold for the chapter trip to Brown Co Indiana this weekend (Oct 23rd-25th). I will make the call Thursday afternoon and post on this site if it is a go or canceled. :( Brown Co soil has a high clay content and it would not be cool to ride in wet weather.

Race Across the Sky movie night

Join some Western Chapter friends for a one night showing of Race Across the Sky this Thursday at Rivertown Crossing. This is a full feature film about the Leadville 100 mile mountain biking race held this past summer where Lance Armstrong upset previous champion Dave Wiens. Buy tickets in advance or at the door.

Approval! Stanaback Park-Kentwood

Kentwood ready to create its first mountain bike trail, in Stanaback Park
By Julie Makarewicz | The Grand Rapids Press... October 15, 2009, 7:32AM

KENTWOOD — Stanaback Park’s deep ravines, rough terrain and wooded areas could become home to the city’s first mountain bike trails.

Members of the Michigan Mountain Bike Association recently toured the park, north of 44th Street SE and east of Breton Avenue, and met with parks and recreation officials to discuss trail plans.

Director Charlie Ziesemer said the Parks and Recreation Commission gave its early blessing to the proposal, dependent on final contract agreements and liabilities. Harriet Stanaback, who donated the original 33 acres for the park, also agreed to a first phase of the project.

When Stanaback donated the land in 1998, she stipulated it be kept mostly in its natural state and used for passive recreation.

“I think it’s going to be a very good use for the property,” Ziesemer said of the trails. “They’re (MMBA volunteers) going to come in and do all the work and maintain the trail. It’s really a win-win for the city.”

Details still need to be settled, but MMBA volunteers seem eager to get started yet this year, if possible, Ziesemer said.

The park — the 33 acres donated by Stanaback plus 17 adjacent acres bought by the city this fall with state grants — includes some paved walking trails, a basketball court, restrooms, a picnic shelter and playground.

“It’s a beautiful park, and there are some very interesting natural features there,” said Martin Hall, a member of the Western Chapter of the association. “The ravines are tremendous, and it’s just a beautiful property where people can get close to nature.”

Hall said the park got high ratings from the MMBA because of its natural features, its proximity to other bike trails, and the large number of volunteers in the area to help with construction and maintenance.

If approved by the city, the trails will be built in phases. The first phase could have about four miles of mountain biking trails north of the paved trail, Hall said. If that goes well, a second phase might add another mile or two to the south side.

MMBA is a nonprofit organization with more than 2,500 members in nine chapters. Volunteers design, develop and maintain trails.

Other mountain bike trails in the area are in the Allegan State Game Area, Cannonsburg State Game Area and Cannonsburg ski area, Edward Creek and Greenville Shearer Road in Greenville, Grand River in Jenison, Luton Park Trail in Rockford, Riley Trails in Holland, Robinette’s in Grand Rapids, and Yankees Springs in Middleville.

NCT Epic pictures are posted!

29 people made the trip down the NCT from Mesick to Freesoil Road(42 miles) or the full on version from Mesick to Baldwin(77 miles). The Pere Marquette Lodge once again served as great hosts for our epic jorney. The weather served up the most diverse conditons only Michigan can produce; from frozen fog to sunny 50's and then some sleet, rain and snow to cap off the ride. The warm lodge, roaring fire, friends, food and Founders beer hit the spot. Check out the trip photos.