Skip to Navigation | Skip to Content
» Back to: » Parks home » Planning & Stewardship» Trails » Trail Plans

Upper Rock Creek Trail Corridor Plan

Summary of Comments from Public Meeting

Tuesday October 23, 2007, 7:30PM – Shady Grove Maintenance Yard Training Room

Listed below are the comments from the community meeting on the Upper Rock Creek Trail Corridor Plan. Many people have also sent emails with comments about the plan concepts since the meeting. These will be added the week of November 12th to the web site.

General Comments on Trail Concept
  • Need description of natural surface trail: categories? Width?  Who can use natural surface trails?  What is cross-section/surface?
  • How are neighbors notified of trail construction?
  • Location of trail head parking?
  • Concern about total traffic on North Branch hard surface trail
  • Concern about impervious surface of trail.
  • Concern that maps show different locations of North Branch trail.
  • Trails reduce auto traffic – accommodate people with disabilities – for the community.
  • Don’t need parking lots – need TRAILS – get those without worrying so much about amenities
  • Natural Surface Trails: labor is free.
  • Open hard surface trail corridor as natural surface trail in the interim
  • Support natural surface trails to mountain bikers
  • Stay with “theme” re hybrid – electric (like bikes)
  • Connection to Patuxent River is possible now via informal trails.
  • Should have standard for notifying neighbors of trail planning/implementation
  • Concern about safety of natural trail crossing at Muncaster Road and Muncaster Mill Road
Closing Trail Gaps
  • Sundown to Zion Rd. Trail – put on high ground (closer to Sundown) Zion Rd. at Hawlings River – parking pull-off; make larger parking area.
  • AHFP – Make Trail to Woodfield Rd. a loop.
  • Want gap connection on Riggs Rd. side easement and purchase and stream valley
  • How can a trail be designated for horses/pedestrians but not bikes?  Other jurisdictions alternate days of use.
ICC Bikeway Amendment
  • Is it possible to connect the High School to Lake Needwood via a trail on the gas lines?
  • The bike path should go the entire length of the ICC.
  • What is the width of the ICC path?
  • 8% impervious surface in Upper Rock Creek Master Plan
  • Is there a policy to require sidewalks and bike paths along roads?
  • What happens to the bike paths if the ICC is NOT built?
Lake Needwood/Lake Frank Connection

  • Could a hard surface trail be provided from Muncaster Southwest, using the Natural Trail, and connect to the Lake Frank hard surface trail?

  • Additional possible connection on grade.
George Carson Farm Mountain Bike Challenge Course

  • Neighbors do not want additional traffic on Barcellona Drive (especially on weekends)

  • Dust from gravel road

  • Speeding vehicles

  • Entering and exiting at Woodfield is very difficult (Currently 20-30 trips/day now on access drive)

  • Construction along Rte. 124 makes access more difficult  (3 years of construction)

  • Consider Falling Spring as access.

  • Add hard surface trail (loop) for local elderly residents and grandchildren

  • Access Park from Fieldcrest Rd.

  • Use stone gravel on current driveway (less dust)

  • This would be the FIRST challenge park in Maryland

  • Notify all adjacent property owners.

  • Need dirt jumps, skinnies, rocks, and drop offs - MORE, IMBA

  • How to accommodate a range of skill levels including the more advanced riders?

  • Examine how other jurisdictions deal with issues of design, access, etc.

 

Audience Discussion:

  • Bikers like long distances and like challenge courses BUT concerned about impact on nearby neighborhoods

  • Think about PARKING for long courses

  • Provide connectivity to larger trail system

  • Environmental degradation from mountain bikes trails?

  • Mountain bikers put in SUSTAINABLE trail.

  • When building roads include trails and sidewalks

  • Getting from place without using CAR – need to get to destinations as pedestrian and bicyclist.

  • SAFTEY ISSUES

  • Add connectivity map of trails and paths and sidewalks

  • Safety and Environmental abuse issues on trail for mountain biking – riding fast to course… no police.

  • Bikers seeking challenging course often different from those interested in regular trails

  • Some folks will want to ride on trails and on courses – need connection

  • Need trails to challenge course to avoid need for cars for access

  • There are “rules of road” for cars, can have rules of trails

  • Trails can help respond to bigger environmental concerns, like saving energy

  • Allow bike access along Barcelona Drive because Rte. 124 scheduled for bike path; put car parking on Fieldcrest.

Last update: October 2007