Memorial Park plan aims to protect foliage, sportsBy MIKE SNYDER
Copyright 2003 Houston Chronicle
RESOURCES• Graphic: Map of park plan
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Memorial Park, central Houston's largest oasis of green, has fallen victim to
its increasing popularity, with millions of visitors each year eroding its
grounds and threading unplanned bike trails through its woods.
Several groups of supporters hope to reclaim the park by gradually replacing its
organized sports facilities with a more open, natural landscape as envisioned by
its founders.
A proposal unveiled this week seeks to balance the desires of the park's
recreational users with the need to protect its foliage and wildlife --
enhancing what the plan calls a "green haven in the midst of the city."
Memorial Park was established in 1924 to honor the World War I doughboys who
trained amid its pines and oaks at Camp Logan before shipping off to European
battlefields. Today, in a city starved for parklands, it is feeling the stress
of its success.
Runners, walkers, equestrians, bicyclists, golfers, tennis players, softball
teams and soccer enthusiasts -- an estimated 4 million of them a year -- flock
to the park's trails, fields, courts and fairways. Park advocates say the heavy
use is taking its toll in the form of erosion, especially along trails favored
by off-road bicyclists on the park's south side.
The health of Memorial's cherished forests, meanwhile, has suffered from
invasive species that have inhibited the growth of new trees.
"We'd like to take the park back to a more natural state over the next 20 to 30
years," said Claire Caudill, the executive director of the Memorial Park
Conservancy, a nonprofit park protection group.
It was that vision of a large natural park that prompted philanthropist Ima Hogg
and her brothers to sell the park's original 1,500 acres to the city in 1924 for
about $650,000 -- their cost plus taxes, according to Memorial Park: A Priceless
Legacy, by Sarah H. Emmott.
The book quotes a newspaper article of the time, which reported that the new
park was "to be kept in the wild state, almost entirely, and made a sanctuary
for birds, small game, wild flowers, holly and whatever else needs protection
against man."
To help restore these conditions, the new proposal -- the Memorial Park
Conservation Master Plan -- calls for the city to acquire other land near the
park to move the tennis center, six baseball/softball fields and two soccer
fields. The golf course would remain in the park.
At a public meeting Monday night, city officials and consultants who developed
the plan sought to assure users of the sports facilities that none would be
moved any time soon. The move, they said, is contingent on the city's finding
money and land within a reasonable distance to develop new, improved facilities.
"Some of these changes should take time," said Glenda Barrett, the executive
director of the Park People, a nonprofit park advocacy group.
The only moves funded so far are those of the police equestrian-canine training
center -- now in a strip of the park west of Loop 610 -- and the maintenance
facility in the park's southeast corner near Buffalo Bayou. The former will be
moved by 2005 and the latter by 2007, city officials said.
Barrett acknowledged that in a time of tight municipal budgets and difficult
fund raising, prospects for raising the needed money might appear bleak. But she
and others said the existence of a master plan will encourage donors.
The plan was developed over the past 2 1/2 years by a Philadelphia landscape
architectural firm, Wallace Roberts and Todd, in consultation with the city, the
conservancy and the Houston Parks Board. It will undergo further review and
public comment before being submitted to City Council this summer.
Emblematic of the plan is its proposal for the creation of a "picnic meadow," a
broad swath of green space south of Memorial Drive on a site now occupied by
sports fields. Caudill said the meadow could be comparable to the Great Lawn in
New York's Central Park -- an undeveloped space for picnicking, kite-flying and
pickup ball games.
In addition to a general effort to naturalize the park, the plan calls for
improving pedestrian access from Memorial Drive, building a canoe launch site
off Woodway west of Loop 610, and establishing a tree nursery to help reforest
the park. The proposal also would create new trails for bicyclists, pedestrians
and equestrians on the park's north side while closing some of those on the more
environmentally sensitive south side.
The off-road bike issue has been particularly contentious. Since the early
1980s, when enthusiasts of the sport began hacking out trails through the woods
on the park's south side, bicyclists have clashed with city officials and
conservationists over park access.
Caudill, the Memorial Park Conservancy official, pointed out sites on the south
side where former biking trails have become deep ravines as the earth gradually
gave way.
"The ground here is real soft," she said. "You sweep the leaf litter off and it
just disappears."
Jeff Nielsen, president of the Greater Houston Off-Road Biking Association, said
development of the master plan had provided a forum for bicyclists and park
groups to work out their differences.
"We've pretty much worked out an agreement where both sides have kind of gotten
what they want," he said.
Caudill's group has taken on the responsibility of protecting Memorial Park, a
burden borne by Ima Hogg until her death in 1975. Hogg fended off numerous
attempted encroachments on the park, including a proposal in the late 1950s to
build the Astrodome within its boundaries.
Advocates say Hogg's spirit should guide city officials and others as they
finish the master plan and work to realize its vision.
"It's very unusual to have such a large green space in the heart of a city,"
said Barrett of the Park People. "It's such a treasure."
The plan is available online at www.hpbinc.org.


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This Saturday and Sunday will be very busy for the GHORBA Gang.  Saturday is the
semi annual Bayou Cleanup at Terry Hershey Park. June and Mike Frye are hosting
this event and will supply the trash bags, drinks and snacks.  Bring bug spray,
sturdy shoes and gloves and enjoy a walk along the bayou picking up the trash
that the floodway brings to our area.
On Sunday, Gary Strouz will host a group ride at Huntsville State Park.  Come
out and enjoy the company of your fellow members and ride in the State Park. 
The ride will be broken up into different groups by ability.  The trails were in
great shape this past weekend so come out and enjoy.  For more info about these
events go to www.ghorba.org
Keith Porter Events Director



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

St. Theresa's Church 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. As many of you know, Memorial Park
has been under going a lengthy process to study the park and users' needs and to
balance these needs with the focus on conservation of the park's natural
resources.  This process has gone on for almost a year now with much of the
focus centering on the wooded areas of the park.  There is a meeting tonight at
St. Theresa's Church across from the golf pro shop at MP starting at 6:30 p.m.
and going until 9:00 p.m.  This is the final presentation for the Master Plan at
Memorial Park and the final opportunity for users to review the plan before it
is submitted to the Houston Parks Board, Houston Parks and Recreation, and
finally City Council for approval and funding. GHORBA was invited to review the
plan from a user's perspective about 3 weeks ago.  The plan currently allows the
existing trails to remain in their current configuration with a caveat of future
reviews of any erosion-troubled areas (per our agreement during the IMBA visit
in January).  The proposed master plan also includes future construction of
trails in the northwest area of the park.  These trails will be multi-use,
including horse traffic.  A new multi-use path circling the park is planned, but
it's exact materials of construction (i.e., chipped wood, decomposed granite)
remains in the planning stages.  The rest of the plan includes possibly
relocating the softball, baseball and soccer fields once another property is
acquired and removal of picnic facilities from the "Picnic Loop" and relocating
these to a proposed picnic meadow where the softball fields are located on the
south side of the park.  Lastly, the running facilities will be expanded to
other areas of the park, and the tennis facilities possibly relocated once
another property is acquired. It is highly encouraged for everyone to attend
this meeting and submit comments on the plan.  The consultants do take these
comments into consideration.  Again, this is our last opportunity to make our
opinions known on this matter before it goes to vote and becomes an official
city document and plan.

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For those who have completed trail work over the last year and are needing their
Pay Dirt forms, I will be at the Flat Creek race this weekend and will have the
forms with me.  Please come find me:  I drive a light brown/champagne Explorer
with GHORBA and NORBA stickers on the bumper.  I also race for West End and will
have my jersey on and will be near the WE tent much of the day. Christina


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Great piece, and I am glad to see that you have already forwarded it to
IMBA.

Jeff Nielsen
Houston Contractors Association
-----Original Message-----
From: Keith Porter [mailto:porterka@...]
Sent: Thursday, April 24, 2003 8:26 AM
To: Ghorba@yahoogroups.com
Cc: Chris Leon; brandon@...; Duane
Subject: [ghorba] Kids clinic in Chronicle


Thanks to Mason Lerner and Steve Sievert of the Chronicle we got some
positive press in the South/Almeda/Hobby area of the Cronicles This Week
Section.  Read it here
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/thisweek/zone08/news/1877634
  or below,
  April 23, 2003, 12:14AM

Urban youth hit the trail
Clinic teaches finer points of mountain biking
By MASON LERNER
Copyright 2003 Chronicle correspondent
Last year when the International Olympic Committee closed the door to
Houston's Olympic dreams, many people lamented the time and money put
into the failed effort to attract the most prodigious event in the world
of sports. Yet, as the saying goes, every time one door is closed, many
more open.

Recently, 55 inner-city children slalomed through one of the doors that
was unknowingly opened by Houston's missed opportunity on mountain bikes
provided to them by The Greater Houston Off-Road Biking Association. The
children gathered at Sunnyside Park for the first ever Houston Sprockids
Clinic.

The group partnered with Houston Parks and Recreation Department and the
National Park Service to provide a mountain-biking experience to area
kids at the site of the future Hill at Sims Bayou Park. This part of the
park is what would have been the Olympic mountain bike venue had
Houston's bid been successful.

The half-day course began with a bike safety class led by Greater
Houston Off-Road Biking Association volunteer Dan Raine. Once the kids
were brought up to speed on the essentials necessary to experience their
first adventure in cycling, they were led in groups of five to seven
through an outdoor course that allowed them to use their freshly learned
skills.

Greater Houston Off-Road Biking Association events coordinator Keith
Porter said that it was a true concerted community effort that made the
clinic a reality.

The 12 volunteers who led the clinic took the time to fit each child
with a safety helmet donated by British Petroleum. The kids each rode
bikes the group purchased with contributions from various corporate
sponsors, and Westside Bicycles allowed them to buy the bikes at cost.

Sprockids is a youth mountain biking program sponsored by the
International Mountain Biking Association that traces its roots to
Canadian British Columbia, according to its Web site, www.imba.com.
After more than 10 years of spreading the rewards of mountain biking to
the youth of North America, Sprockids finally made its way to Houston
thanks to the efforts of volunteers like Porter.

If Porter has his way, Sprockids will soon become a mainstay in Houston,
and many more inner-city kids will be exposed to mountain biking.

"We are working with Houston Parks to develop a continuing program,"
Porter said. "Our plans right now are to do another clinic in June."

Porter also stressed that the clinics are for children of all skill
levels and mountain biking experience. He added that the enjoyment and
exercise that the kids get at the clinics is all of the compensation
that the volunteers need in return for working the clinics.

"There's nothing better than getting on the bike and riding on the
trails. Just being outside in the fresh air and the woods, it doesn't
get any better than that," Porter said. "The joy for all of us (the
volunteers) was the smiles on the kids who participated.

"We had a few kids who had never ridden a bike before. We took special
time and effort to teach them the finer points of riding. We have
volunteers to lead and teach the most inexperienced beginners. Nobody
should be afraid to give it a try."

For more information on The Greater Houston Off-Road Biking Association
and future Sprockids Clinics in Houston, log on to www.GHORBA.org.




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]


==================================================
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  wish to recieve this, please send an e-mail to
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Great job, Keith!!!
Cynthia

Keith Porter wrote:

>
>
   [Yahoo! Groups]      My Groups | ghorba Main Page

>
> Thanks to Mason Lerner and Steve Sievert of the Chronicle we got some
> positive press in the South/Almeda/Hobby area of the Cronicles This
> Week Section.  Read it here
> http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/thisweek/zone08/news/1877634
> or below,
> April 23, 2003, 12:14AM
>
> Urban youth hit the trail
> Clinic teaches finer points of mountain biking
> By MASON LERNER
> Copyright 2003 Chronicle correspondent
> Last year when the International Olympic Committee closed the door to
> Houston's Olympic dreams, many people lamented the time and money put
> into the failed effort to attract the most prodigious event in the
> world of sports. Yet, as the saying goes, every time one door is
> closed, many more open.
>
> Recently, 55 inner-city children slalomed through one of the doors
> that was unknowingly opened by Houston's missed opportunity on
> mountain bikes provided to them by The Greater Houston Off-Road Biking
> Association. The children gathered at Sunnyside Park for the first
> ever Houston Sprockids Clinic.
>
> The group partnered with Houston Parks and Recreation Department and
> the National Park Service to provide a mountain-biking experience to
> area kids at the site of the future Hill at Sims Bayou Park. This part
> of the park is what would have been the Olympic mountain bike venue
> had Houston's bid been successful.
>
> The half-day course began with a bike safety class led by Greater
> Houston Off-Road Biking Association volunteer Dan Raine. Once the kids
> were brought up to speed on the essentials necessary to experience
> their first adventure in cycling, they were led in groups of five to
> seven through an outdoor course that allowed them to use their freshly
> learned skills.
>
> Greater Houston Off-Road Biking Association events coordinator Keith
> Porter said that it was a true concerted community effort that made
> the clinic a reality.
>
> The 12 volunteers who led the clinic took the time to fit each child
> with a safety helmet donated by British Petroleum. The kids each rode
> bikes the group purchased with contributions from various corporate
> sponsors, and Westside Bicycles allowed them to buy the bikes at cost.
>
> Sprockids is a youth mountain biking program sponsored by the
> International Mountain Biking Association that traces its roots to
> Canadian British Columbia, according to its Web site, www.imba.com.
> After more than 10 years of spreading the rewards of mountain biking
> to the youth of North America, Sprockids finally made its way to
> Houston thanks to the efforts of volunteers like Porter.
>
> If Porter has his way, Sprockids will soon become a mainstay in
> Houston, and many more inner-city kids will be exposed to mountain
> biking.
>
> "We are working with Houston Parks to develop a continuing program,"
> Porter said. "Our plans right now are to do another clinic in June."
>
> Porter also stressed that the clinics are for children of all skill
> levels and mountain biking experience. He added that the enjoyment and
> exercise that the kids get at the clinics is all of the compensation
> that the volunteers need in return for working the clinics.
>
> "There's nothing better than getting on the bike and riding on the
> trails. Just being outside in the fresh air and the woods, it doesn't
> get any better than that," Porter said. "The joy for all of us (the
> volunteers) was the smiles on the kids who participated.
>
> "We had a few kids who had never ridden a bike before. We took special
> time and effort to teach them the finer points of riding. We have
> volunteers to lead and teach the most inexperienced beginners. Nobody
> should be afraid to give it a try."
>
> For more information on The Greater Houston Off-Road Biking
> Association and future Sprockids Clinics in Houston, log on to
> www.GHORBA.org.
>
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
> ==================================================
> If you have recieved this by mistake or no longer
> wish to recieve this, please send an e-mail to
> <a
>
herf=mailto:ghorba-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com>ghorba-unsubscribe@...\
m</a>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Thanks to Mason Lerner and Steve Sievert of the Chronicle we got some positive
press in the South/Almeda/Hobby area of the Cronicles This Week Section.  Read
it here http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/thisweek/zone08/news/1877634
  or below,
  April 23, 2003, 12:14AM

Urban youth hit the trail
Clinic teaches finer points of mountain biking
By MASON LERNER
Copyright 2003 Chronicle correspondent
Last year when the International Olympic Committee closed the door to Houston's
Olympic dreams, many people lamented the time and money put into the failed
effort to attract the most prodigious event in the world of sports. Yet, as the
saying goes, every time one door is closed, many more open.

Recently, 55 inner-city children slalomed through one of the doors that was
unknowingly opened by Houston's missed opportunity on mountain bikes provided to
them by The Greater Houston Off-Road Biking Association. The children gathered
at Sunnyside Park for the first ever Houston Sprockids Clinic.

The group partnered with Houston Parks and Recreation Department and the
National Park Service to provide a mountain-biking experience to area kids at
the site of the future Hill at Sims Bayou Park. This part of the park is what
would have been the Olympic mountain bike venue had Houston's bid been
successful.

The half-day course began with a bike safety class led by Greater Houston
Off-Road Biking Association volunteer Dan Raine. Once the kids were brought up
to speed on the essentials necessary to experience their first adventure in
cycling, they were led in groups of five to seven through an outdoor course that
allowed them to use their freshly learned skills.

Greater Houston Off-Road Biking Association events coordinator Keith Porter said
that it was a true concerted community effort that made the clinic a reality.

The 12 volunteers who led the clinic took the time to fit each child with a
safety helmet donated by British Petroleum. The kids each rode bikes the group
purchased with contributions from various corporate sponsors, and Westside
Bicycles allowed them to buy the bikes at cost.

Sprockids is a youth mountain biking program sponsored by the International
Mountain Biking Association that traces its roots to Canadian British Columbia,
according to its Web site, www.imba.com. After more than 10 years of spreading
the rewards of mountain biking to the youth of North America, Sprockids finally
made its way to Houston thanks to the efforts of volunteers like Porter.

If Porter has his way, Sprockids will soon become a mainstay in Houston, and
many more inner-city kids will be exposed to mountain biking.

"We are working with Houston Parks to develop a continuing program," Porter
said. "Our plans right now are to do another clinic in June."

Porter also stressed that the clinics are for children of all skill levels and
mountain biking experience. He added that the enjoyment and exercise that the
kids get at the clinics is all of the compensation that the volunteers need in
return for working the clinics.

"There's nothing better than getting on the bike and riding on the trails. Just
being outside in the fresh air and the woods, it doesn't get any better than
that," Porter said. "The joy for all of us (the volunteers) was the smiles on
the kids who participated.

"We had a few kids who had never ridden a bike before. We took special time and
effort to teach them the finer points of riding. We have volunteers to lead and
teach the most inexperienced beginners. Nobody should be afraid to give it a
try."

For more information on The Greater Houston Off-Road Biking Association and
future Sprockids Clinics in Houston, log on to www.GHORBA.org.




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

MAY MEETING:  The May meeting will be held at OTTO'S BBQ on Memorial Drive
between Westcott and Detering Streets (east of Memorial Park).  The meeting will
be on May 5th starting at 7:00 p.m.  We have reserved the back room, which will
seat approximately 100 people (we were outgrowing the JAX location), and will
continue to meet there through the end of the year.  Never been to a meeting? 
Consider riding at the park beforehand and then joining us for dinner and the
meeting afterwards.  FYI: Otto's also offers hamburgers in another area of the
restaurant if you're not a BBQ fan. MEMORIAL PARK MASTER PLAN:  The final public
meeting on the Memorial Park Master Plan is on Monday, April 28th starting at
6:30 until 9:00 p.m.  The meeting is located at the Catholic church across from
the golf pro shop at Memorial Park.  GHORBA's preliminary review of the proposal
looks favorable with the existing trails remaining basically unchanged and
future trails planned for the area called The Triangle, which is west of the
railroad tracks and north of Woodway.  Please make plans to attend this meeting
and share your thoughts with the consultants.  This is our last opportunity to
provide input into the plan before it is presented to the Houston Park Board and
City Council for final approval. JACK BROOKS TRAIL WORK PARTY:  There will be
another work party this coming Sunday, the 27th at Jack Brooks Park.  The work
party starts at 11:00 a.m. and ends at 3:00 p.m.  Conversations with Park
officials have been very favorable with additional materials being given to us
for further improvement of the trails.  Signage to help limit horse and ATV
access to the MTB-only trails have also been approved.  More info: 
focuz@....  MAY MONTHLY RIDE AT HUNTSVILLE:  We will have the May monthly
ride at Huntsville State Park on Sunday, May 4th starting at 9:00 a.m.  We
typically ride until around noonish, then grab a bite to eat on the way back to
Houston.  Please arrive a little early so we can start on time.  Everyone is
welcome, and there will be groups of riders for every riding ability. MAY IS
BIKE MONTH!!!!  Check out the GHORBA calendar to see all of the events going on
around town, as well as the typical weekly rides.  There are free bike
maintenance clinics happening during the month, as well as another Bike to the
Astros Day (game day to be determined).   Tuesday, May 13th is Bike Bash, a
celebration of everything bicycle, with awards given out to public officials who
have contributed to making biking more friendly in Houston.  The Party is open
to everyone and will be held at The Twelve Spot on Travis (bike parking will be
available).  We had almost 200 people come to the party last year....come check
it out!!   Friday, May 16th is Bike to Work Day with festivities occuring at
City Hall during noon time.  Go to www.bikehouston.org for more information.


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For those that have nothing better to do than work in Jack Brooks Park and ride
afterwards, there is a trail maintenance crew meeting at 10:30am until about
3:00pm and riding afterwards.

If you are interested, you know the drill, show up and bring a shovel.  That is
the only tool you will need this time.  Drinks will be furnished.  (Sorry, no
food this time guys.)

If you need pay dirt for the time you put in, e-mail me prior to the work date
with the following information:

Name, Address, Home and Work Phone, NORBA #, Racing Class.

Thanks and see you in the park Sunday,

Coby
cjames8@...


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Contact Coby at cjames8@... for more information on the Jack Brooks
work party this weekend.

Note: forwarded message attached.


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I have completed Pay Dirt forms for about 60-80 of you (lost count).  Many of
you I know, others I do not; some of you I have no clue if you even want
PayDirt, but I've printed up forms for you anyway.  And still others, we have
many trail hours for, but I'm fairly sure you're not racing this season.  If I'm
incorrect, please let me know.   I will be at Memorial Park tomorrow (Wednesday)
night at the Picnic Loop until 745.  Many of you I know the shop you ride for
(i.e., Westside, Bikesport, BikeLane, Northwest, etc.) and can give them to one
of your fellow riders to take back to your shop.  Please email me at
jayhawkrider@... to coordinate getting your form.  Please bare in mind
that I'm not driving all over town every day and I'll be out of town this
weekend.  I will be at the Flat Creek race and plan on going up on Friday
afternoon should that work out best to give you your form.  Your form must be
completed with the rest of your personal information and post marked NO LATER
THAN MAY 1ST.   I have forms for the following people: Ryan SpatesDavid
BremnerKirsty BremnerRichard GabrunasSusan StormerBilly CloerFrank St. ClairDan
RaineTracy MeixenspergerGary StrouzVicki StrouzColin WinsorMelanie LacyChris
BurkeMelissa MaterNick GonzalesMike LutomskiLarry PruittJoe CraigDavid
McClintockBill DuckworthRay DavisBrian HansonLuis GonazlesJim HarloyBrian
ThigpenJorge PortillaRob BrownTim WirtsKelly StraderAnja WinsorPam AveryMike
ClarkMorris TaymoniNathan WinklemanSuzi WilliamsMonica GillKelley EspindolaAaron
JonasAustin PferdChance BromleyMichael AtkinsonGraham DavidsonTony DeoreDaniel
ThorntonSkip StallingsSteffi PencoCatherine MarchakGarth McCannRick PerezClifton
HartoonBob MacKnightCody HogeNick MillerScott SchaeferMax WirtsJoan
SnodgrassJohn Washburn


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For those of you who are concerned about PayDirt hours for TMBRA spring series,
I've downloaded the hours we have since last May 2002 onto the GHORBA
YAHOOGROUPS website (please go visit that at www.yahoogroups.com click on
GHORBA, then on Files to check out the spreadsheet).  We must still enter the
hours for the bridge building at Huntsville State Park and the hours for a work
party at Memorial Park back in July.  We anticipate having this complete by
Wednesday of this week.   Russell has also completed the mail merge for the
spreadsheet, which will have the TMBRA form completed with the information we
have on file for you, as well as  Russell's signature, and a second page with
the work parties you've attended and the hours you've completed.  You must still
complete the form with the rest of your personal information, including your
NORBA license, and mail it in to Jeanne Patterson ON YOUR OWN, per her
requirement. I will send an announcement out via email informing everyone where
you can pick up your forms...most likely at Memorial Park this week and again
next week.  If you have friends who need their PayDirt hours, please pick theirs
up at the same time. Thanks. Christina


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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hello,

This email message is a notification to let you know that
a file has been uploaded to the Files area of the ghorba
group.

   File        : /PayDirt Work Hours/Trail Work Hours 2002-2003 Locked.xls
   Uploaded by : jayhawkrider <jayhawkrider@...>
   Description :

You can access this file at the URL

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ghorba/files/PayDirt%20Work%20Hours/Trail%20Work%2\
0Hours%202002-2003%20Locked.xls

To learn more about file sharing for your group, please visit

http://help.yahoo.com/help/us/groups/files

Regards,

jayhawkrider <jayhawkrider@...>

GHORBA MONTHLY MEETING APRIL 7th AT JAX GRILL - We will have our April
monthly meeting tonight at Jax Grill (Monday, April 7th) starting at 7
p.m. in the back room.

FYI: We are looking into other locations with  larger accomodations for
future meetings.

Meetings are open to everyone, so please feel free to join us!

GHORBA MONTHLY MEETING APRIL 7th AT JAX GRILL - We will have our April
monthly meeting tonight at Jax Grill (Monday, April 7th) starting at 7
p.m. in the back room.

FYI: We are looking into other locations with  larger accomodations for
future meetings.

Meetings are open to everyone, so please feel free to join us!


From ghorba@yahoogroups.com Mon Apr 14 11:34:59

MONTHLY MEETING APRIL 7th AT JAX GRILL - We will have our April
monthly meeting at Jax Grill on Monday, April 7th starting at 7 p.m.
in the back room.  FYI: We are looking into other locations with
larger accomodations for future meetings.  Meetings are open to
everyone, so please feel free to join us!

Saturday April 5th is a big day for GHORBA members.

MEMORIAL PARK WORK PARTY - We are having a work party at Memorial Park
this Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.  We will be correcting some
of the mud holes problems and moving dirt, so please bring gloves and
shovels.  This counts for PayDirt points.  We will meet in the parking
lot just west of the softball fields on the south side of the park.
Be sure to sign in and out so we can track your time and indicated
whether you are interested in PayDirt or not.


KIDS PROGRAM - GHORBA is partnering with the Houston Parks and
Recreation Department and the National Park Service to put on a kids
mountain bike-riding clinic at Sunnyside Park on April 5th.  Set up is
at 8:00 a.m. with registration for the kids at 9:00 a.m. This clinic
is part of a community outreach program to the residents in the area
of the future Hill at Sims Bayou Park.  Thanks to  Westside Bicycles
and Cyclone Cycles who each donated two kids' bikes. If you are
interested in helping with this worthy cause, please contact Jamie at
jamiel_1450@...


Saturday evening is the Westside Moonlight Madness ride.  This is a
new ride that we are developing for west side riders wanting to get
some night miles in.  We will start at 8:00 pm at the Terry Hershey
parking lot south of Memorial.

SUNDAY, Sunday Sunday, Clay Fenton is leading the April Group Ride at
Terry Hershey Park (Anthills) meet at at 10:30 a.m. and be ready to
roll at 11:00 a.m.


If you haven't checked out GHORBA's new and improved website please do
so. Many thanks to Keith Porter for his efforts on upgrading and
maintaining the website.

More information on all of the events can be found at
http://www.ghorba.org/homenews.htm


Cynthia Stewart
GHORBA Secretary

Jeff Nielsen
Houston Contractors Association
-----Original Message-----
From: Deborah Rule [mailto:deborah@...]
Sent: Thursday, April 03, 2003 11:29 AM
To: deborah@...
Subject:

Memorial Park Conservation Master Plan
Public Meeting # 3


The Houston Parks Board, Inc. and the Memorial Park Conservancy invite
you to a third public meeting regarding the Memorial Park Conservation
Master Plan.

DATE:                        Monday, April 28, 2003
TIME:              6:30 - 9:00 PM
WHERE:        St. Theresa Catholic Church - School Cafeteria
                         6622 Haskell (adjacent to Memorial Park)

The consultant team led by Wallace Roberts and Todd, (WRT) will present
a first draft of planning and design recommendations for Memorial Park.
Please come to review the draft plan and make comments.

In consideration to the staff of St. Theresa's, the meeting will start
promptly at 6:30 and will conclude promptly at 9:00 PM.

For more information, call (713) 942-8500.



You are receiving this email because you have contacted The Houston
Parks Board, Inc. with comments or attended a previous meeting.  If you
would like to be removed from this mailing list please respond to this
email and indicate your wish to be removed.


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

GHORBA elects new leader
by Steve Sievert
-- One of the founding members of the Greater Houston Off-Road Biking
Association (GHORBA) has been elected president of the cycling advocacy
organization.
Jeff Nielsen, who was instrumental in forming the group five years ago, takes
over for Christina Case and will serve a term of up to three years.
"We've accomplished a great deal over the past few years and have grown from 30
members when we started to more than 130 registered members today," Nielsen
said. "My focus will be on bringing more organization to the group and
developing `signature' GHORBA events."
Riding classes, trail-maintenance clinics, a GHORBA-sponsored off-road race and
the second Fat Tire Festival are among the events Nielsen is planning for 2003
and beyond.
The group's first spring event is an invitation-only children's mountain-biking
clinic Saturday at Sunnyside Park.
GHORBA is introducing 50 inner-city kids to mountain biking. Several bikes have
been donated and reconditioned for use at the clinic, with many of them to be
given away to children at future events.
"This is an important part of our community outreach program and a way to bring
mountain biking to kids who might not otherwise have an opportunity to learn
about our sport," Nielsen said.
Work also continues in earnest with Houston's parks groups regarding off-road
trail access in the city. User groups received a sneak peak at the latest
version of the Memorial Park Master Plan late last month, and Nielsen was
pleasantly surprised with what he saw.
"It was pretty agreeable," he said. "Virtually all of the trails currently being
used for mountain biking would continue to be open. Some minor re-routes would
be necessary, but these will affect less than 10 percent of the trails. The plan
also showed new access in the north side of the park."
While this bodes well for the future of off-road cycling in Memorial, Nielsen
isn't signaling victory just yet.
The plan was presented to the user groups as a "preliminary final plan," with
another round of public comment and city council review still ahead.

---------------------------------
Steve Sievert covers cycling for the Chronicle. His notebook appears Thursdays.
Call him at 832-978-4359 or send e-mails to cycling@....


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Sorry, directions to Jack Brooks are wrong.  Take the dog track exit and you go
through the first light on the feeder road, which is 1764.  About 200 yards
down, you curve to the right, which is FM 2004.  Take a right onto FM2004.Park
is down on the right about 2 miles.Elementary school is on the left, right
across the street.If you follow the other directions, you will be on the wrong
side of the freeway.(Thanks, Russ!)


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MONDAY NIGHT RIDE AT MEMORIAL PARK.  We'll be doing our usual Monday night ride
at Memorial Park leaving at 6:15 from the parking lot just west of the softball
fields on the south side of the park.  Hopefully you won't need your lights
since it's getting lighter these days.  Bring the mosquito spray, as our buddies
have awakened and are hungry!

JACK BROOKS TRAIL WORK - The Clear Lake crowd made some significant progress on
the trails last weekend.  The work party had 20 people who moved the third dirt
pile, tamped dirt in place, built a bridge, etc.  They have now completed over
200 hours of trail work in the last several weeks and have 2 miles of trail in
superb shape!  Coby was also able to get $80 donated for food and drinks from
local bike shops and supporters.  Congratulations to everyone who worked on the
trails and for all the hard work you've put into making the work parties a
success!!  For those who have not ridden the trails, you can get there by
heading south on I-45 to the dog track near Mall of Mainland.  Take the exit to
the dog track and take a left at the stop light.  Stay on the road that passes
behind the track and go about 3 miles (total trip approximately 38 miles from
downtown).  The park will be on your left across from the elementary school. 
Take a left at the T in the road and park at the pavillion by the memorial.

KIDS PROGRAM - Six volunteers worked 5 hours this Saturday building a one-mile
trail at Sunnyside Park for the kids clinic this weekend.  Keith was also able
to obtain enough donations to purchse 15 new Diamondback bikes!!!  Also,
Westside Bikes and Cyclone Cycles donated two kids' bikes each. We still need
two more instructors for either the morning or afternoon sessions, so please
contact Jamie at   jamiel_1450@... if you are interested in helping on
Saturday.

MEMORIAL PARK WORK PARTY - We are having a work party at Memorial Park this
Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.  We will be correcting some of the mud
holes problems and moving dirt, so please bring gloves and shovels.  This counts
for PayDirt points.  We will meet in the parking lot just west of the softball
fields on the south side of the park.  Be sure to sign in and out so we can
track your time and indicated whether you are interested in PayDirt or not.

DURANGO MOUNTAIN BIKE CAMP- If you want to take a trip to Colorado to ride or to
learn how to ride better, Durango Mountain Bike Camp has things going on this
spring through next fall.  They have clinics and camps for women and juniors and
tours to Salida, Colorado Trail, and other Durango trails.  Check out
www.bike-camp.com for more information.

MONTHLY MEETING APRIL 7th AT JAX GRILL - We will have our April monthly meeting
at Jax Grill on Monday, April 7th starting at 7 p.m. in the back room.  FYI: We
are looking into other locations with larger accomodations for future meetings. 
Meetings are open to everyone, so please feel free to join us!



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GHORBA will sponsor a trail work party at MEMORIAL PARK on Saturday April
5th from 9 a.m. till 1 p.m. The work party does qualify for PAYDIRT points.
We will meet at the Rugby Field parking lot on the south side of Memorial
Drive and go from there.  We will be doing a lot of dirt fill work so bring
mainly shovels.  Also don't forget gloves and mosquito spray.  More later on
the details...

The time is coming for the kids bike event!!

We are seeking instructors and volunteers. The clinic will be held in two
sessions: 9am-noon, lunch, then the last session 1-4pm. There will
be 25 kids in each session. The plan is to divide the kids up into 2
groups. One group will learn riding skills on the skills course, approximately
90 minutes this includes fitting helmets and bikes to the kids and a
off-road ride on the mini-trail. The second group will learn bike/trail safety
(classroom-90 minutes). The groups will then switch. We will need 6
instructors for the skills portion and 3 for the classroom. Volunteers
will be needed to assist in the classroom and on the skills course/trail.
Let us know if you would prefer to instruct or volunteer. If you have
experience in teaching basic riding safety (signaling, street crossing,etc) let
us
know that as well. If you can only instruct/volunteer for one of the
sessions, we'll still take you on board. Please RSVP to jamiel_1450@...
so that we can get the curriculum out to those who will be participating.

We are working on getting the HPD bike patrol and the HFD bike medics to come
out for the day also.

Everything is progressing very well. The mini-trail has been flagged at
Sunnyside
Park south of the Dome. The parks department will mow it down and we will go in
and remove some of the face slappers and limbs that still remain. The "Recon"
crew
fixed up a couple of the donated bikes on Sunday. We are awaiting the
next group of donated bikes from various individuals, HPD, and some of the
local shops. We could still use some additional bikes and parts if you or
someone you know have any parts/bikes that need a "good home". If you have
already agreed to donate bikes or parts, we'll make arrangements to pick them up
from you.

Your support and time is what will make this a success!

Looking forward to working with you,


Jamie
(832) 816-8021  jamiel_1450@...






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Ladies and Gentlemen, The new forum is up on the new GHORBA.org website.  Got a
question? That's where to go.  We plan on having moderators for each trail area
to monitor the board to give you great service.  Hope you find this new forum
fun and easy to use.
Keith Porter
Events Evangelist/Webmaster



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Moonlight Madness Ride
Just wanted to remind everyone about the Westside Moonlight Madness ride
Saturday night. This is a new ride that we are developing for west side riders
wanting to get some night miles in.  We will start at 8:00 pm at the Terry
Hershey parking lot south of Memorial.  Do not park on the North side of
Memorial because they lock the gate at 10:00pm.  We will ride the trails when
open and the pavement and dam loop when its too wet.  Bring your lights front
and rear, helmet, water and your bike.
Bike Donations
We are looking for bikes and bike parts that can be donated to GHORBA for the
Kids Program. If you are interested email
Mike Frye at Giantmike@... or
Keith Porter at porterka@...
We can give you a receipt so you can receive a tax deduction.
More information can be found at www.ghorba.org



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

TRAIL WORK HUNTSVILLE:  Sunday, March 23rd at 9:00 a.m.  Richard has permision
to complete a reroute of a section of trail near the bridge that was installed. 
Please bring shovels, rakes, and tampers.  Be sure to sign in at the ranger gate
and to sign the GHORBA sign-in sheet for PayDirt points and GHORBA trail hours. 
Huntsville is located approx. 45 miles north of Houston just off of I-45 (look
for the Sam Houston statue).  Don't forget to bring your bike for a short ride
after trail work.

WARDA RIDE:  The folks from Bikesport's team are heading to Warda's Bluff Creek
Ranch this weekend to ride and camp out.  They would like to invite anyone else
who would like to join them for a ride.  Warda is located:  I-10 to Hwy 71 at
Columbus, Hwy 71 to Hwy 77.  Go approx. 9 miles northeast to Owlcreek Road and
turn right.  The ranch will be on your left about 1/2 mile from the highway.

KIDS' CLINIC:  April 5th in partnership with Houston Parks and Recreation Dept,
Houston Police Dept, National Park Service, and Harris County Flood Control. 
Want to help teach or volunteer?  Want to help fix donated bikes?  Have a bike
you want to donate?  Old jerseys or shoes?  Contact Keith at:
porterka@....

MEMORIAL PARK MASTER PLAN:  The third phase of the MP Master Plan is complete. 
Representatives from GHORBA will be attending the users' group viewing of the
plan this evening.  The public review of the plan is expected to be in
mid-April.  We will report back to the riders about what the plan includes, as
it refers to trails at the park.  Your support and attendance at the public
meeting is very important, so please make plans to attend once the date is
announced.



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Ladies and Gentlemen,  Monday night March 17th at 6:00pm we will start a group
ride from the parking lot by the soccer fields and do a lap on the trails then
meander along the bayou to downtown Houston for a little urban actionand then
return towards Memorial Park for dinner and drinks at C.Lantro's .  R.J. Marino
the owner of the restaurant has invited us to enjoy their patio for some food
and beverages.  You can check out their menu at www.clantros.com.  Please bring
your lights, helmet, some coinage, and join us for what promises to be our
largest group ride to date.  We should be able to ride 15-20 miles and still be
home early.  Get out and ride!



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

St Patrick's Day Ride - Monday Night March 17,2003
It's our normal GHORBA Monday Night Ride with a twist.  We'll meet at Memorial
Park by the soccer fields at 6:00 sharp and leave on a loop through the trails
and head towards downtown for an urban ride where we'll stop at a couple places
for a cold drink of your choice.  We'll stop and go a couple times then head to
the King Biscuit Cafe for some dinner before heading back to our land yachts at
Memorial Park.  Bring your bike, helmet, lights and some cash for dinner.  The
King Biscuit is a bike friendly cafe with an outdoor patio and a great staff and
food.    Join us for a truly great St. Patty's Day Bike Parade.  You don't want
to miss this one!

TRAIL WORK AT JACK BROOKS:  Just a reminder, work crews are needed for both
Saturday and Sunday this week. We will have materials on site and it will take
alot of work to get the materials to the trail sections where they are needed.
Please help us with labor, hand tool and wagons (4 wheels)
and wheelbarrows for moving the materials. For more information on time and
meeting place, email Coby at jack-brooks-trails@... or Edgar at
focuz@.... We are working on getting PayDirt for this location and will be
tracking hours, so please be sure to sign in.



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The results of last night's elections are as follows:

President - Jeff Nielsen

VP - Kelly Strader

Treasurer - Mike Lutomski

Secretary - Cynthia Stewart

Events - Keith Porter

Membership - Kirsty Bremner

Fundraising - Christina Case

At-Large 1 - June Frye

At-Large 2 - Gary Strauz

At-Large 3 - Larry Pruitt

At-Large 4 - Paul Saverance

Thank you everyone for attending last night's meeting and for getting involved.
This next year is shaping up to be truly great with our Kids' Program getting
off the ground, the tremendous work being done at most of the trail locations,
the fall series race, and the many prospects we have before us.  Houston
mountain biking will only become stronger because of each of you!



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Don't forget about the March meeting this evening starting at 7:00 p.m. at JAX
Grill.  JAX is located between Shepherd and Durham just south of I-10.  We will
be on the deck.  Topics of discussion include the Kids' Program and bikes,
Huntsville REI bridge, Jack Brooks, Election stuff, Ant Hills report, Memorial
Park, scheduling of next group ride, Womble Trip, etc.

The new website is up!!!!  Take a look.  We're also adding more things every
day, so keep checking back over the next couple of weeks.

If you have a kid's mountain bike you're not using anymore, please consider
donating it to GHORBA for use by disadvantaged kids.  We are having our first
clinic on April 6th and will be supplying bikes for kids to use.  Don't have a
bike to give and want to help rehab some bikes?  We already have a few bikes
that will need some TLC, so consider helping us change out chains, tubes, and
putting a shine on these used babies.



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Note: forwarded message attached.



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