Jul 17 2008
Quality Single Track Trails Bulldozed at Coonskin Park
If you are a member of WVMTR or read this site it is because you like trails. We all can agree that trails are as different as their uses. There are rail trails for walking and biking. There are single track trails for hiking, running and mountain biking. We search for these trails out and use them in different ways. When we find a nice section of single track trail we cherish and use it often.
Two such trails were recently destroyed by park officials in Kanawha County’s Coonskin Park. The Pine Trail and the Patriot Trail were both bulldozed and made 8 foot wide. A long time trail runner and member, Joni Adams worked ten years to carve the Patriot Trail out of the forest at Coonskin. Then with little warning it was undone in a mater of a few days. Park Official put an legal ad in the paper and posted information at the clubhouse about their plans. Users of the trails don’t use the club house and a ad in the paper fails to provide adequate information in today’s internet age.
An email brought this to my attention on Monday night and I walked the length of the Patriot Trail on Tuesday. I was sicken by what I saw. I can’t fiquire out if this was done out of ignorance or spite. Park officials say they widen the trails for accesibility for emergencies, which is an “after the fact” excuse. I guess they will need to put a road into the floor of the Grand Canyon to provide emergency services to over heated hikers.
Some trails were lost when 16 acres of land was cleared for a golf training center. The fitness trail was one of these trails. I personally don’t have a problem with the building of a golf training center. The park is for all residents hikers, runners, swimmers, and golfers. All I ask is if one mile of trail is lost to construction I would like to see one mile of like trail added to the park. Trails could easily be routed around the training center.
If you are a resident of Kanawha County or know residents of Kanawha County I urge you or your friends to contact a county commissioner to voice your opinions on this subject. Explain to them that having recreation areas close to Charleston is important to you, and that all residents should be provided time to give input. In addition, you would like to see trails added to mitigate the damage done.
WV Gazette Article by Paula Kaufman
WV Gazette Article by Kellen Henry
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2 Responses to “Quality Single Track Trails Bulldozed at Coonskin Park”
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“What they consider a trail I would call a deer path. What I consider a trail is something where two or three people can walk abreast…”
It’s called single track!! Two or three people walking abreast-that’s practically a road!
I feel for y’all. There’s a trail near me where they did the same thing, except they PAVED it in asphalt for three miles. Made me SICK. You have my heart felt sympathy.