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Its been too long since I last sent out a report, partly because I've been racing around with work and other things (like bike racing!) but I have been keeping in touch with progress. Part of the reason I haven't reported is that the situation has been rapidly developing. At my last report, I advised that the county and TPL were working on appraisals of their land requirements with a view to TPL entering a joint offer to the landowners.
Over the last couple of weeks, just confirmed in a conversation with Laura Sykes of TPL, we have learned that the landowners have developed an innovative plan and are now negotiating directly with the county to work a deal. Laura advised me of the overall plan, as she understands it, and she is very optimistic that it will offer a way complete a deal that will work for all parties - including those of us who want to retain the trails. I cannot divulge any details of the plan, suffice to say that it does sound like a win-win.
If it does go ahead, it will be slightly disappointing that TPL won't be able to have this important preservation effort under their belts, but we'd like to think that between us - this group, TPL, Cypress Creek Cultural District, Cypress Creek Greenway Project, GHORBA and our friends at the county (including Commissioner Eversole) -will have played no small part in helping to steer the parties in the right direction.
Brandon has advertised a work party for Saturday morning - please join him (and I hope to be there) and find out more than we can tell you in an e-mail.
Now, more than ever, there are couple of things that are very important:
1. Stay off the private land. We must maintain cordial relations with the landowners as negotiations move into a critical, and hopefully final, phase. Please encourage any friends or acquaintances to do the same. This is not a "nod and a wink, stay off" it means that: stay off. The landowners were very upset when they received reports of the jumps, the holes dug over the pipeline and the fact that the use of the land was far greater than they imagined. They were naturally very concerned at their liability issues; and, they had to pay money to the pipeline company to refill the holes. We can understand why they were concerned, and we are grateful that they are still working with us in a constructive manner. But, until such time as the land passes over to public ownership: please stay off. Period.
2. Help to maintain, develop and use the existing trails on the county land. When the private land does become part of the park, we want to be able to demonstrate to P4 Parks that there is an existing, vibrant trail system that is worth preserving along with the habitat in which they exist.
Happy trails,
Kevin Highfield
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