Park board OKs mountain bike trail proposal

By Beverly Bryant/News Director

The Ponca City Park and Recreation Advisory Board held a public hearing Tuesday night to hear comments on a proposal for a mountain bike trail at Lake Ponca.

At the end of the hearing, board members voted unanimously to forward the proposal to the City Commissioners for action on Feb. 9.

The McFadden Room in City Hall was filled with mountain biking enthusiasts. No opponents appeared.

Roy Pemberton, an early supporter of creating a mountain bike trail, said the trail is a way to get the community more active.

He said he often drives to Oklahoma City to ride on trails there and is looking forward to having a location closer to home.

The group discussed ideas about how the trail should be designed and operated.

The chosen location is between Wentz Camp and Hubbard Road.

Pemberton said it will be a fun area to bike and said supporters could make a 5 to 7 mile loop out of this trail.

"A lot of young people want to get into this and at this location they can ride to it," he said.

Park and Recreation Director Jim Sindelar said the board has looked at this project and gave Pemberton the go-ahead.

"We will give them a license to go in and build with some restrictions. The license spells out who is responsible for what — to put the trail in place and maintain the trail. It just gives them the right to build a trail in that area," he said. "We still want it open to fishermen and the public. This will be a pedestrian trail and mountain-biking trail, but not an equestrian trail or motorbike trail. There will be no trailer parking."

Several members of the group discussed the positive economic impact the trail could have if and when local bikers are able to set up races to attract visitors to Ponca City.