Mike Anderson, Chairman of the Nebraska Horse Trails Committee, has asked me to help spread the word about this rally at Cunningham Lake in Omaha.  It is a chance for horse trail riders to partner with our fellow trail users in support of (all) the trails at Cunningham Lake.  The following is a note from the organizer.  Bring your horse and ride!

Tammy

www.horsetrailriders.com

Subject: Rainwood Road Walk-and-Ride-A-Thon Jan. 22

Hello Mike,

I am with the Friends of Cunningham Lake Coalition.  We are planning an event for this Sunday, Jan. 22.  We are holding a Rally and Walk-And-Ride-A-Thon at Cunningham Lake to call attention to our wish that the Rainwood Road access to Cunningham Lake stay open.  As you know, the Walter Scott family is asking that the road be vacated and that a new access to the east side of the lake be put in via a road coming down from Highway 36.  For more information on our position, see the news release below.  The City Council will be voting on this on Tuesday Jan. 24. 

Our plan is to hold a rally with speakers from 2-2:30, and we are inviting horseback riders, walkers, dog owners, families, and any/all people who want to see the road remain open to come to the rally and show their support.  We will be inviting the media to this event.  At 2:30 we will have the riders and walkers take off down the trail. 

We will be meeting at the Rainwood Road access on Cunningham Lake. 

For questions or more information, contact rider Frank Jackson (457-6565, or cell:605-310-5159), or you can call me, Mary Green, at 556-1830, or cell: 415-1081, or e-mail to megreen4@....

Thanks for spreading the word!

Mary Green

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NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  JAN. 16, 2006

Neighbors Tell City Council:  “Compromise Proposal is not Acceptable.”

The Compromise Won’t Solve Park Problems

The Friends of Cunningham Lake Coalition has come to the conclusion that the compromise proposed for access to Cunningham Lake by the Omaha City Council on January 10 is not a viable one.

Building a new road would not solve problems of vandalism, wild parties, and objectionable behavior, the Scotts’ primary concerns as detailed at the City Council meeting January 10. 

 “A new road will not solve the Scotts’ concerns, and would unnecessarily destroy the most wild and scenic area of the park through development,” said Mary Green of the Sierra Club.  There is an exceptionally beautiful trail where the proposed new road would go.  This trail is used by birdwatchers, hikers, horseback riders, dog walkers and the mobility impaired.   

“This is a park maintenance and neighborhood watch issue, not a road issue,” said David Stover, President of the Lake Cunningham Hills Neighborhood Association.  A check of all Cunningham Lake park facilities reveals a lack of upkeep throughout the park, not just at the Rainwood Road entrance.  The condition of Cunningham Lake facilities stands in stark contrast to those at Standing Bear Lake and Lake Zorinsky.

The proposed compromise would in effect sell Rainwood Road to the Scott family for the road price per acre.  The Scotts would pay the cost of building a new road, which would destroy existing parkland.  Coalition members point out that no Environmental Impact Statement has been made for the proposed new road, and public input has not been obtained at any stage in developing Lake Cunningham renovation plans.

With population growth projected for the area, our parkland needs to be preserved while remaining freely accessible.  Coalition members state that a better compromise would be to improve existing access points by properly maintaining the existing road, upgrading the recreational facilities, and providing additional security measures as needed. 

The Coalition will continue to fight to keep Rainwood Road open to the public. Our parks are not for sale.