UPDATE:
On May 30, the City of Ashland, Parks and Recreation Commission sent this message via email:
"After listening to a citizen proposal to create a bicycle skills course / pump park at Ashland Creek Park, the Parks Commissioners decided against amending the park's master plan. This project will therefore not be moving forward."
We are very thankful the Park Commissioners also had concerns about Ashland Creek Park as the location.
Proposed Bike Pump Tracks Would Dramatically Alter Ashland Creek Park
Photo Notes: The Proposal shows the above photos of an asphalt pump track that would cover about 90% of the native grassy areas within the park pathways and placement of 3 asphalt tracks: next to the Ashland Creek Park Community Garden, on both sides of the playground, and in the grassland within the path loops.
A Proposal was made May 14th to Ashland Parks & Rec Commission to amend the Master Plan for Ashland Creek Park to permit construction of asphalt bike pump tracks covering about 90% of the native grassy areas within the park pathways. The proposal is currently under consideration by the APRC. During the presentation, the APRC stated that while they are interested in pursuing other possible locations, they would not rule out Ashland Creek Park.
Ashland Creek Park Master Plan and Community Engagement
The Ashland Creek Park Master Plan, developed based on an extensive public involvement process is explicit that Ashland Creek Park is intended as a space for a community garden, open space with native meadow grasses, walking trails, meditation space and a family playground and picnic area with minimization of impervious paving. The Master Plan cites Lithia Park as “inspiration” for the park, and states “creating a strong connection between these two parks and accentuating their connection to the creek will help instill the idea of the creek flowing through the city."
The City has an obligation to carry forward and protect the expressed interest of the community which was developed through the public participation process. The community has clearly indicated a preference for sustainability and protection of its natural resources and open spaces.
Asphalt mounds and tracks would violate all of these fundamental aspects of the Master Plan, and would remake the park environment and use forever.
100-Year Floodplain and Sensitive Riparian Zones
Much of Ashland Creek Park is located within the 100-year floodplain and it abuts the sensitive riparian area of Ashland Creek. Ashland Creek is Ashland’s most important natural resource and a critical headwater of Bear Creek and of the Rogue River.
Encroachment of and development in floodplains and in or near the riparian area, particularly those developments which introduce impervious surfaces, such as a multi-acre asphalt bicycle pump track facility are not appropriate within the Ashland Creek floodplain or near its riparian edges. The sculpting and raising of land areas within the floodplain is detrimental to the capacity of the floodplain to dissipate flood waters.
Any impermeable surface would harm the riparian zone, contrary to goals of the Master Plan.
Applegate Wagon Trail Historical Site and Native American Cultural Site
Ashland Creek Park is the site of historic Native American encampments and is a Native American cultural site. Ashland Creek Park is adjacent to the site of the first sawmill in the Rogue Valley. Ashland Creek Park is located on the original Helman (Ashland founder) Land Claim tract. Helman and Jessie Applegate both camped near this location on their first visits to Ashland. The Applegate Trail crossed Ashland Creek near the current Hersey Street alignment at Ashland Creek Park’s south entrance. Some of these cultural aspects of Ashland Creek Park were recently memorialized by a marker placed near the proposed bike park location.
Clearly from a cultural resources and preservation standpoint, a modern bike park is inconsistent with and would diminish the setting of this historic location.
Bee CITY USA Pollinator Garden
In December 2014, the City of Ashland adopted a resolution to become a BEE CITY USA. Ashland Creek Park has been designated a Pollinator Garden in partnership with BEE CITY USA, and the Pollinator Project Rogue Valley. Bees require access to native plants, a water source, and uncultivated/ undeveloped areas to thrive. There are approximately a dozen registered bee hives shown on the City’s beehive locator tool and surely many other native hives within foraging distance and that actively use Ashland Creek Park for forage and water. We observe bees daily accessing the meadows, community garden, and waters of Ashland Creek.
The Rogue Valley Mountain Bike Association Proposal seeks donation of park land and has a proposed budget of $200-250k for full buildout. Creating new bike tracks, or improving the existing BMX park next to the water treatment plant, may make sense. However Ashland Creek Park is not the right space. It makes no sense to scrap the Master Plan for Ashland Creek Park or to undermine the essential nature of what the community asked for and agreed upon after years of community involvement. This proposal is inconsistent with the community interest at large and is harmful to Ashland’s natural, cultural, and open space resources and is also harmful to the Bear Creek Watershed at large.