NS Park & Rec - Little River Park Bike Trail Agreement Renewal

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ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS • ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: March 13, 2007 Action Agenda, Item No. SUBJECT: Little River Park Bike Trail Agreement Renewal DEPARTMENT: Recreation and Parks PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No ATTACHMENT(S): Draft Contract Park Map INFORMATION CONTACT: Lori Taft, 245-2660 Geoff Gledhill, 732-2196 PURPOSE: To consider renewal of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Orange and Durham counties and a Mountain Bike Organization for the purpose of continuing the establishment and maintenance of mountain bike trails at Little River Regional Park. • BACKGROUND: In August of 2002, Orange and Durham counties entered into an agreement with an entity called Durham Orange Mountain Bike Organization (DOMBO). From that time through opening of the park in 2004 and until recently, the MOU has been upheld and the relationship between partners has been mutually beneficial. The park has benefited from many hours of volunteer labor in the establishment and maintenance of seven miles of mountain bike trails. Some time ago, DOMBO merged into a larger, regional group called the Southern Off-Road Bicycle Association (SORBA), and the former DOMBO became the Triangle Off Road Cyclists (TORC) - a chapter of SORBA. The DOMBO-group is effectively no longer a viable organization, so it has become necessary to rewrite the MOU reflecting this new organization. Once the new MOU is executed, SORBA/TORC's liability coverage will become effective at Little River Park. This will allow continued stewardship and maintenance of the trails. In addition to the seven miles of bike trails managed by TORC, the park has seven miles of hiking trails and plans approximately 3.5 miles of Equestrian Trails. Staff and Recreation & Parks Advisory Council (RPAC) are currently working with an adjacent landowner to develop a Memorandum of Understanding for consideration by the BOCC which would allow the development of these trails on park and private lands. An update on this potential public/private partnership is planned for the fall of 2007. The park continues to attract many visitors with an average annual visitor count of over 30,000. FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact associated with this action. • RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board authorize the Manager to sign the newly drafted agreement on behalf of the County.