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Cycling groups push back on draft Shiloh mountain bike‑trail enhancements, want clarity on grant scope
Summary
Cyclists told the council they support improvements at Shiloh but oppose a plan they say favors widening and beginner features; they asked staff for an itemized list and timeline tied to the grant.
LAREDO, Feb. 18, 2025 — Members of the Laredo cycling community urged the City Council on Tuesday to clarify how grant funds for the Shiloh mountain bike trails will be spent, saying the current draft favors widening and beginner features rather than tougher trail elements requested by riders.
Why it matters: Riders and local youth teams have used the Shiloh trails for years; cyclists told the council that improper design changes could convert a specialized mountain biking resource into a multipurpose walking area and diminish the trail’s value for sport and training.
Community arguments and council response Speakers representing the Laredo Cycling Association and other riders said the original grant and volunteer commitments were meant for drainage and targeted enhancements — not broad “beginner” regrades or wider multiuse paths. One speaker said previous city discussions with cycling volunteers and prior administrations produced a different scope; another asked for an itemized list of proposed features, a schedule and assurance that drainage repairs would be prioritized.
City staff and council City management said the word “beginner” in the consultant’s draft reflected the generally flat terrain in Laredo and not an intent to convert the trail into a low‑challenge facility. Staff said they had discussed drainage fixes and trail enhancements with cycling representatives in past years, confirmed some volunteer commitments used in the grant application, and agreed to return with a clearer timeline and itemization of works. City legal staff noted that because the trail isn’t a posted agenda item, councilors and staff could not enter into an extended dialogue during the public comment period, but they could follow up and bring details at a future meeting.
Next steps Cycling representatives requested explicit drainage repairs be done first, followed by trail enhancements. Council asked management to provide an itemized list of project features and a schedule at the next meeting; staff agreed to seek that clarity from the consultant and to report back.
Provenance: Public comment and council/staff clarifications at the Feb. 18 meeting.
