For over a year now, the club has been planning a parking lot and “official” trailhead for the Redd Rd. trail network. This parking lot is planned to be under the power lines across the street from the dental offices along the paved road that goes up to the water tanks. A trail map and information sign will be posted at the top of the hill next to the water tank.
We originally sat down with employees of the Public Service Board, our water utilities people and controllers of most of the city managed land, and discussed this plan with them. They seemed all excited and we had a company draw out plans and give us a quote that is less than $3000. This amount can easily be paid by us as we’ve raised plenty of money through donations, memberships, and the Puzzler race. We’ve yet to hear anything else on this issue and now the PSB is stalling and wants us to provide a handicapped space and pay for a drainage survey which they could easily do themselves in a matter of minutes using their fancy digital mapping software.
Wednesday we will be approaching the Board of the PSB to get them to act on this plan since it will cost them nothing, we have the money to pay for it, and the city really needs to begin providing parking areas to popular recreational areas such as the Redd Rd. trails. Some of you may say, “Why bother? I just park on Redd Rd. or the dentist’s lot.” In less than a couple of years, Redd will continue through as Helen of Troy and traffic will be a concern. Crossing the road and parking on it will be unsafe or may become impossible.
If you’d like to see a trailhead parking area, please let the PSB and City Council know. Contact your city council rep to let him/her know that you heard the BMBA is willing to build a trailhead parking lot, but we are facing stalling tactics and even opposition to the plan. If you can attend the PSB meeting this Wednesday at 9 am, contact Cynthia Montoya at 594-5596 or email at cmontoya@epwu.org. Let her know that you want speaking time during the call from the public. You don’t have to speak, but reserving the time allows you to pass your time to someone else like me so I can ramble on and annoy the Board….just kidding. Reserving time to speak lets the board know that people are interested in this topic.
The PSB meets at the EPWU Building on Hawkins just north of I-10 on the east side of the road…..easy access. Meetings can last well into the lunch hour, but usually don’t. Coming early allows you to see the Mayor make a fool of himself.
