Fairfax County Park Authority formalizes Night Riding Program at Wakefield - To Enforce Night Closure at Accotink
2004-10-29
MORE would like to call the attention of all riders to this important announcement regarding the new Fairfax County Park Authority night riding program at Wakefield Park
As some of you may know, night riding in FCPA parks, including Wakefield and Lake Accotink, has not been an officially sanctioned FCPA activity, and has been officially prohibited by park regulations. Over a year ago, in answer to the increasing popularity of night riding, and the need for compliance with park regulations, the FCPA began to review options for allowing legal night riding in FCPA parks. Since then, the FCPA has held a series of meetings with park stakeholder and user groups such as MORE, and deliberated over the policy options for allowing some degree of night riding. Many of your fellow MORE members spent a considerable amount of time making sure that our case for allowing night riding was presented to the park management.
This week, FCPA is announcing their decision to implement an eight month trial period night riding program that will allow night riding under specific conditions at Wakefield only. We explain the policy in detail below, and the official park announcement is included at the end of this article.
Details of the new policy:
The new policy will include stepped up enforcement of pre-existing night closure rules at Lake Accotink, but will legalize night riding at Wakefield for three nights a week during an initial eight month trial period. Both the enforcement of night closure rules, and the eight month legal night riding program at Wakefield are to commence immediately as of the date of this announcement. Riders and ALL park users are advised by the park that those entering any portion of Accotink Park after sunset can be prosecuted for trespassing, and that local law enforcement will be running patrols.
The night riding trial period at Wakefield will carry with it certain restrictions that all riders need to understand. These are as follows:
o Night riding is only allowed on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday nights only
o All riders must be off the trails by 10:30pm
o All participant cars must be off park property by 11:00pm
In order for this program to go forward, the park is requiring that there be at least two riders designated each evening as trail monitors. Trail monitors do not need to lead rides, are not there for enforcement purposes, and do not have to be MORE members. Trail monitors will simply be required to provide some basic information to the park on trail usage, and report any unusual incidents or accidents. Riders may ride in organized groups or individually, just as currently allowed. Monitor riding of closed trails at Wakefield on Wed, Fri-Sun evenings, will be scheduled in advance by Park authorities. Monitors are not allowed to night ride Wakefield on Wed, Fri-Sunday, except for specifically scheduled monitoring purposes." Monitors will be given park ID's and instructions on how to report activity to the park.
MORE has agreed to manage the trail monitor program, and will be providing details to all those interested in participating shortly. In order for this program to work, we must have two trail monitors signed up for each of the three weekly evenings. All riders, whether MORE members or not, are able to become trail monitors. And as we mentioned above, trail monitors will NOT be enforcing any rules; we will just be there to note activity for the park. Enforcement is the responsibility of the park and law enforcement. Joe Penano our Wakefield Trail Liaison will be the central point of contact for the Trail Monitor schedule.
A note from the Board:
Speaking for the MORE board of Directors, we would like to say to our members, and to all local riders, that we understand that these restrictions may come as a disappointment to the many riders who have enjoyed night riding at Accotink over these past years. That being said, we should all recognize that given the existing rules against all night activity in these parks, we are perhaps fortunate that the park authority has decided to give its ok for the eight month trial period at Wakefield. It is certainly our intention as a club to keep pressing the case for opening Accotink on an official basis, but at this point, we firmly believe that the mountain biking community has no choice but to work hard to make the night riding program at Wakefield a success. If we can make this work, and show that we are able to manage a controlled program that adheres to park regulations, we may get the chance to start other legal night riding programs at other parks in the future.
What do we mean by success? Well, if we can contain night riding to just those nights allowed by the park, that would be a great start. If the park notices that night riding at Accotink has stopped that's another. If all riders can follow the rules during this trial period, we stand a much better chance that we'll be able to continue to do night rides at Wakefield, and hopefully other places as well in the future.
As we continue to dialogue with the park staff on night riding at FCPA parks, we encourage all members to contact anyone on the MORE board if you have questions or suggestions, or would like to help in this effort. If you would like to contact the park authority regarding the program, you may do so via the park information web address at: http://www.co.fairfax.va.us/parks/feedback.htm. We will continue to keep you all informed of any new developments regarding any night riding regulations.
Now for the best part. Kilroy's is still there at the end of the ride. See you out on the trail!
Signed
Scott Scudamore - President
Eric von Eckartsberg - President-Elect
Fairfax County Parks Press Release
Fairfax County Park Authority
12055 Government Center Parkway
Suite 927
Fairfax, VA 22035-1118
For Immediate Release
Night Riding at FCPA Parks
Night riding has been occurring at Wakefield Park and Lake Accotink Park both by individual riders and as an advertised, organized ride of the Mid-Atlantic Off-Road Enthusiast (MORE) for more than ten years. Although the activity has been recognized by staff at the Wakefield and Lake Accotink Parks as an activity that occurs, the issue of organized park use after dark, a violation of Park Authority Rules and Regulations has not been addressed as an issue until this time.
In order to move toward proper compliance with the Park Authority Rules and Regulations while attempting to meet this emerging recreational activity, the Park Authority is initiating a pilot program as defined below.
Wakefield Park is initiating a pilot program to support community interest in mountain bike night riding. Effective October 15, 2004 night riding is authorized on designated trails on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday nights from dusk to 10:30 pm. All vehicles must be off park grounds by 11:00 p.m. Night riding is prohibited on all other nights. Park Authority parks are generally closed at dark, and use is limited to those with permits or permission.
Night riding is prohibited at all other Fairfax County Park Authority parks including Lake Accotink Park, adjacent to Wakefield Park. Riding on prohibited nights or at prohibited locations is cause for ejection from the park and riders will be subject to prosecution.
The pilot program will run through next spring at which time an evaluation will be completed. Consideration of continuing the program will be based on the success of the pilot program in providing a safe activity in compliance with Park Authority Rules and Regulations, ability to reduce or eliminate night riding at unauthorized locations, and impact on the trails.
Wakefield Park is located at 8100 Braddock Rd. Annandale, Virginia 22003. For more information please call 703-321-7081 and ask to speak to Bill Hellwig.
2004-10-29
MORE would like to call the attention of all riders to this important announcement regarding the new Fairfax County Park Authority night riding program at Wakefield Park
As some of you may know, night riding in FCPA parks, including Wakefield and Lake Accotink, has not been an officially sanctioned FCPA activity, and has been officially prohibited by park regulations. Over a year ago, in answer to the increasing popularity of night riding, and the need for compliance with park regulations, the FCPA began to review options for allowing legal night riding in FCPA parks. Since then, the FCPA has held a series of meetings with park stakeholder and user groups such as MORE, and deliberated over the policy options for allowing some degree of night riding. Many of your fellow MORE members spent a considerable amount of time making sure that our case for allowing night riding was presented to the park management.
This week, FCPA is announcing their decision to implement an eight month trial period night riding program that will allow night riding under specific conditions at Wakefield only. We explain the policy in detail below, and the official park announcement is included at the end of this article.
Details of the new policy:
The new policy will include stepped up enforcement of pre-existing night closure rules at Lake Accotink, but will legalize night riding at Wakefield for three nights a week during an initial eight month trial period. Both the enforcement of night closure rules, and the eight month legal night riding program at Wakefield are to commence immediately as of the date of this announcement. Riders and ALL park users are advised by the park that those entering any portion of Accotink Park after sunset can be prosecuted for trespassing, and that local law enforcement will be running patrols.
The night riding trial period at Wakefield will carry with it certain restrictions that all riders need to understand. These are as follows:
o Night riding is only allowed on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday nights only
o All riders must be off the trails by 10:30pm
o All participant cars must be off park property by 11:00pm
In order for this program to go forward, the park is requiring that there be at least two riders designated each evening as trail monitors. Trail monitors do not need to lead rides, are not there for enforcement purposes, and do not have to be MORE members. Trail monitors will simply be required to provide some basic information to the park on trail usage, and report any unusual incidents or accidents. Riders may ride in organized groups or individually, just as currently allowed. Monitor riding of closed trails at Wakefield on Wed, Fri-Sun evenings, will be scheduled in advance by Park authorities. Monitors are not allowed to night ride Wakefield on Wed, Fri-Sunday, except for specifically scheduled monitoring purposes." Monitors will be given park ID's and instructions on how to report activity to the park.
MORE has agreed to manage the trail monitor program, and will be providing details to all those interested in participating shortly. In order for this program to work, we must have two trail monitors signed up for each of the three weekly evenings. All riders, whether MORE members or not, are able to become trail monitors. And as we mentioned above, trail monitors will NOT be enforcing any rules; we will just be there to note activity for the park. Enforcement is the responsibility of the park and law enforcement. Joe Penano our Wakefield Trail Liaison will be the central point of contact for the Trail Monitor schedule.
A note from the Board:
Speaking for the MORE board of Directors, we would like to say to our members, and to all local riders, that we understand that these restrictions may come as a disappointment to the many riders who have enjoyed night riding at Accotink over these past years. That being said, we should all recognize that given the existing rules against all night activity in these parks, we are perhaps fortunate that the park authority has decided to give its ok for the eight month trial period at Wakefield. It is certainly our intention as a club to keep pressing the case for opening Accotink on an official basis, but at this point, we firmly believe that the mountain biking community has no choice but to work hard to make the night riding program at Wakefield a success. If we can make this work, and show that we are able to manage a controlled program that adheres to park regulations, we may get the chance to start other legal night riding programs at other parks in the future.
What do we mean by success? Well, if we can contain night riding to just those nights allowed by the park, that would be a great start. If the park notices that night riding at Accotink has stopped that's another. If all riders can follow the rules during this trial period, we stand a much better chance that we'll be able to continue to do night rides at Wakefield, and hopefully other places as well in the future.
As we continue to dialogue with the park staff on night riding at FCPA parks, we encourage all members to contact anyone on the MORE board if you have questions or suggestions, or would like to help in this effort. If you would like to contact the park authority regarding the program, you may do so via the park information web address at: http://www.co.fairfax.va.us/parks/feedback.htm. We will continue to keep you all informed of any new developments regarding any night riding regulations.
Now for the best part. Kilroy's is still there at the end of the ride. See you out on the trail!
Signed
Scott Scudamore - President
Eric von Eckartsberg - President-Elect
Fairfax County Parks Press Release
Fairfax County Park Authority
12055 Government Center Parkway
Suite 927
Fairfax, VA 22035-1118
For Immediate Release
Night Riding at FCPA Parks
Night riding has been occurring at Wakefield Park and Lake Accotink Park both by individual riders and as an advertised, organized ride of the Mid-Atlantic Off-Road Enthusiast (MORE) for more than ten years. Although the activity has been recognized by staff at the Wakefield and Lake Accotink Parks as an activity that occurs, the issue of organized park use after dark, a violation of Park Authority Rules and Regulations has not been addressed as an issue until this time.
In order to move toward proper compliance with the Park Authority Rules and Regulations while attempting to meet this emerging recreational activity, the Park Authority is initiating a pilot program as defined below.
Wakefield Park is initiating a pilot program to support community interest in mountain bike night riding. Effective October 15, 2004 night riding is authorized on designated trails on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday nights from dusk to 10:30 pm. All vehicles must be off park grounds by 11:00 p.m. Night riding is prohibited on all other nights. Park Authority parks are generally closed at dark, and use is limited to those with permits or permission.
Night riding is prohibited at all other Fairfax County Park Authority parks including Lake Accotink Park, adjacent to Wakefield Park. Riding on prohibited nights or at prohibited locations is cause for ejection from the park and riders will be subject to prosecution.
The pilot program will run through next spring at which time an evaluation will be completed. Consideration of continuing the program will be based on the success of the pilot program in providing a safe activity in compliance with Park Authority Rules and Regulations, ability to reduce or eliminate night riding at unauthorized locations, and impact on the trails.
Wakefield Park is located at 8100 Braddock Rd. Annandale, Virginia 22003. For more information please call 703-321-7081 and ask to speak to Bill Hellwig.