What Can We do?

[daniel240]

I was not aware that any of the trail had been cut. Last time I was there I walked in about 100' where it is flagged and I didnt see anything other than markers.

[kylekirkman]

yo- Ricdix- I'm am one man.... I am hoping that there are multiple "leaders" for the trails around the area.... There is no reason why all of you motivated individuals cannot take the reigns at some point, at some level. For my case- I have a whack job and a whack life. My free time is when most of you are working, my work occurs when you are sleeping, and my weekends are 50% on 50% off.

I also have an assload of of other things i do such as home projects (always), a wife who i don't get to see all that much, and I'm in the ISL among other things...

If everyone is looking for a sole individual to run the show- it can work but it keeps people in the dark at many levels.... keep in mind there are benefits to the top down command such as span of control.... however Oligarchy's work very well.

Here's a few break downs of the elements of Harmonie or of any new trail, with a volly base:

E-news and dissemination- email lists to the masses regarding updates/events...
E news- Posted to SIMTB, and HMBA sites
Trail conditions- posted every possible chance
Kiosk news- work c park mgt and volly base keep data current
Trail Maint- de riming, tree clearing
Scheduling of events: Maint, rides, builds etc...
Volunteer training
A middle monkey between park mgt, and voly base
User surveys
developing ideas for the future
Trail expansion

all the elements work hand in hand, and all need to be known about- fiddled with- and more than one person needs to be involved... If one person is "IT" you WILL become task saturated and will quit caring.

I was talking to Grizzly on the phone the other night and hopefully i made it clear that anyone who cares to get involved, I will tell you everything i know, and will introduce you to park mgt, get you talking to Alex and Paul , and you will be just as educated as anyone else about the facility and the do's and dont's, and about "HMba" trails and IMBA standards....

There's power in numbers and the sooner a "core group" rears its head the sooner progress can be made (and i think it has) . And never forget to share information. The rest of the oligarchy will be pissed.

[ziggy]

I'm able to help out when needed, please add me to the list. I have a lot on my plate right now, high school graduation and then 2 in college. I also work all different shifts including weekends, so being able to get involved all the time is not going to be possible for me.

[ziggy]

I would be interested in gettting those trees off the trail... what is needed there?

[timbarnes]

Following is the post I put on the HMBA site for "What Can I do"? today. BTW, the park attendant said they are waiting to get the trees off the Walnut Connector due to it being "too muddy". Told them they could walk in okay as of yesterday but too muddy today.

Because I'm retired, I am very flexible on when I can work and am willing to coordinate some activities. I just realized I should be signing in at the office. I've been unofficially maintaining these trails since last January, especially after storms with high winds to cut down branches and vines that get over the trails. If anyone wants help, just let me know when. I'll try to make it.

Heres the other post:
Walked the marked section of the Walnut Loop today. Still marked okay - only one "gap" through a bunch of briars that I couldn't easily follow. The section done last November is in good shape. Only needs a typical clean-up from the winter and spring. The marked section after the finished section would be a good place to start work. No really big trees across it, so a chainsaw wouldn't be necessary.

A lot of my questions have been answered on this forum lately. I signed in at the office today for the first time. There was a key for "Gate 15" which the attendant said was for the shed. Although I didn't walk up to the shed, it appeared to have a combination lock on it (anybody know the combination???). Talking to the attendant again, we figured the key was to the gate to access the Walnut Loop (closed picnic area). There was a chain on the gate but no lock, so I just drove in.

Although I won't "schedule" an exact time, I plan on working on this trail on and off two or three days a week. If anyone wants to help, let me know what time you will be there and I'll try to adjust my schedule to meet you. Still need access to the tools. Recommend wearing long pants and sleeves - area getting to the trail is really grown up now. I'll work on this access area with a machete next week.

[nathan]

I work 8-5 M-F and since I won't be retiring for a veeeeeery long time, I'm limited to weekends. I'm usually free though.

[Tim]

There is no reason why all of you motivated individuals cannot take the reigns at some point, at some level.

Probably cause they are not enough

Besides that, there has to be food and beer and junk and beer and stuff.

All joking aside, we should at least get with the park staff and set up a
chain saw class. Ass much as I would love to be totally devoted to any future projects over there, I just can't. i barely have time or money to do anything. Things are hard enough putting 3 kids through school and other various charity things.

>>>> Incert violin music <<<<

I started this forum because of Harmonie. I thought that it would be the perfect catalyst for southern indiana mountain biking.

I think as a forum and as a group it has been very successful.
At least there is an open local platform to communicate a common interest.

I don't like the "Oligarchy" idea. I don't think anyone is looking for a certain leader as much as WE are looking for direction. We are the spoken "collective" for the area.

I do agree with Kyle on outlining everything or breaking down key elements. The one good thing is that there are already channels for communication.

Has anyone talked to Paul yet ? I have not been to the HMBA site lately. If not, I will invite him over and see what he has to say.

If I were passionate about it "harmonie"
i would at least get the basic info gathered, names, numbers, etc.
Maybe post it as a sticky here.

I'm big on details but not on chaos.
Anyway, lets at least have a central starting point for everything.

The chainsaw issue needs to be knocked down so the trail can get cleared in timely fashion and the park contacts need to be provided.

end violin music, thanks ;D

[Ben Kaetzel]

Personally, I would like to see the kiosk finished. From what I gathered from Kyle, the park has some paint and Kyle has a sheet of plexiglass for the front. If Kyle (or anyone) has the name of the person I can talk to who has the paint, I'm on it...and maybe a day or two of sunshine.

[Tim]

Not trying to be argumentative but why paint ?

Aren't most of Harmonies kiosks just natural wood ?
Paint seems so high maintenance compared to a stain or sealant.

Unless it's that crazy outdoor paint that last for 200 years.
Then by all means, paint away

[Ben Kaetzel]

I dunno, I just thought that was the idea. I assume it's pressure treated lumber, but you're right, whatever will match the rest of the park signs.

[kylekirkman]

harmony kiosk signs are typically painted with the brown paint. The plywood backing to the kiosk looks like crap bare, and so will the lexan surrounds when I get those cut. If people want to leave it bare cool....but what matters is what the park wants .. just check with Chastity the Asst park manager. Her office is located at the entrance to the park.

[Tim]

cool, I always though that was a stain.
By all means, paint away

[kylekirkman]

well.... there are actually a couple of styles.... as far as i know harmony had paint avail.... and that's it. I dunno what they want, and last year they were indifferent.

so whatever dudes and dudesses.

[kylekirkman]

yeah the combo lock.... ok here's the gig about the shed.... The combo is supposed to be given only to a few people... Well that's fine and dandy but it doesn't help anyone if 3 people have the combo and no one else does. Last I saw, the chainsaw is in there and some pin flags and tape. That's it.

If the combo lock was ditched and it was a key access, the key could be left at the office but in the winter months (if i recall correctly) the office is mostly open but is closed at times......

i'm guessing that if all of you who have been very interested in doing work, and then do work- harmonie should have no issue letting you have access... and I'll press for it also. There needs to be a good handfull of folks who can get in and get the job done.

-Kyle

[kylekirkman]

hey- here's Ben's observations.. a repost from Long term plans for SWIN in the Where we ride section.... These observations are "BIG TIME" .. but Ben is a pro and does stuff very pro... However you can still infer much from these ideas even if we aren't going in that particular direction.... there's still valuable stuff here-



Long Term Plans for MTB development, creating worldclass facilities in Southwest Indiana.....

Observations and notes from Ben Blitch.....

Harmonie State Park

The Plan

Focus your energy on riding the system and finding the three worst mud/flow issues. Take hand pruners and a folding saw on all of your rides and cut back the brush/ deadfall
Investigate opening trail #4 and #2 to multi use travel (Hike/Bike)
Ride it and view if it is good to have bikes on the trail
Adds mileage and allows access from the campground.
Put on trainings held by Kyle for Mountain Bike Patrol
One Day Classroom
One Day outside with the Heli Landing (Huge “Cool” Factor)
Find a promoter for short track XC races to raise money for creating a professional plan for the park’s trail systems
This may help raise local awareness and pull folks to the system
Hire a Professional Trail Builders Association member to create a professional plan and design that includes input from the local township (New Harmony) – Potential FUNDING Source
Try to design/build at least a 25 mile trail system (the mileage seems to be a good number to draw regionally)
Rough Cost for the plan should not exceed $15,000
Grant sources coupled with money raised from races (Bikes Belong Grant?)
Apply for grants to hire a trail crew at the park to build trained by PTBA member
Grant should be between $75,000 and $150,000
Buy a trailbuilding machine (SK500 or Mini Excavator) to build out projects $15-20K (written into the grant)
Once a consensus has grown (visible user increase), build a pumptrack/skills area at the campground, then build a bike park at the current mt. bike trailhead
This will set the park apart from other regional mountain bike destinations in the area and will establish a welcome base of customers
Bike Park could potentially be a managed facility like the pool and raise even more funds
Once the trail system is complete hold festivals to raise money and awareness for the trail system
Increase revenue by selling out the campground every weekend in the summer rather than just five weekends



Burdette Park

Approach BMX crowd about creating a progressive riding area near the track to help entice interest in the race track. The progression park could be unmanaged and open regularly. It could include a pumptrack, practice gates, and a small dirt jump area
The park could possibly want to expand into a very large bike park complex of which the BMX track was just a component as well
Seems to be the most established riding spot in the entire area and probably should get the least amount of effort to get access, but is a potential spot


Angel Mounds

Wait until the greenway is in place, then move towards establishing a skills area that is suited to the trail system where the greenway interfaces with the mountain bike trails


Lincoln Ave. Park ( Evansville State Hospital, City Parks Property)

Seems to be the best location due to proximity to your house to create a pumptrack/skills area in the shade right next to the walking trails.
Landscaping will be key in making this amenity fit the surrounding landscape
This could act as a model for facilities like this in other parks around town
May be the best prospect for hiring me to come back in and get something on the ground in a matter of only a couple weeks.
Get approval, then you could apply for a Bikes Belong Grant or ask Gillis to sponsor the project
Rough budget for my time ($10000 for the two weeks) also would take about $5K in materials that may be able to be donated
Ask city to donate machine and operator to place the material
The bonus of getting it knocked out quickly is that the landscaping could then be set and it would not look like a continuous work zone. You would also then be able to ride more and think about it less.