Blue Mounds State Park Draft Master Plan Update
Proposal outlines improved MTB trails, allows class 1 e-bikes, more bike/hike campgrounds, some snowmobile access granted, no ATVs.
Plan appears to be decent compromise for bikes, hikers, and snowmobiles.
UPDATE May 28th, 2021
The Plan has been approved according to the latest post from Capitol Off Road Pathfinders
Overall, Bike Fed’s reaction to the Draft Master Plan is it’s a positive for bikes. Some limited Snowmobile access is proposed to be allowed, but minimal interactions are expected with bike and hike trails. More bike and hike in camp sites and rebuilt MTB trails to improve conditions are among highlights. Class 1 (pedal assisted up to 20mph) e-bikes proposed to be allowed on bike trails.
Final public input sessions are scheduled and some important deadlines are noted on the Wisconsin DNR site.
Register to speak at Public Input meeting held on December 16th at 5pm by 5pm December 15th. Register for December 16th meeting by going to the link here on that day The Blue Mounds State Park planning page on Wisconsin DNR website has links to submit written or phone in comments.
From the plan “Mountain bike trails at BMSP are largely built and maintained by the nonprofit Capital Off Road Pathfinders (CORP). CORP and DNR have a memorandum of understanding defining their partnership.” I reached out to Jon Augspurger, President of CORP, for some insight on what CORP’s hope for this final feedback opportunity was and he told me “our ask is simply for people to submit pro-biking comments.” At this point the Bike Fed agrees. There are some wins that improve the experience for people on bikes and some compromises seem to be made. Wisconsin DNR staff have presented solutions that minimize danger for non-motorized user groups and noted that your input was key to the process.
Over the weekend I took some time to read the entire plan and created this PDF document with virtual sticky notes and highlighted parts that affect bikes throughout the plan.
“Changes to recreation management include a redesigned mountain bike trail system, authorizing Class 1 e-bikes on mountain bike trails, a more cohesive snowshoeing experience and a snowmobile trail connecting the Military Ridge State Trail to the county trail system north of the park” – BMSP Plan PDF, p 17.