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Laramie council approves $200,000 from Economic Development Fund for Pilot Hill trailhead
Summary
The Laramie City Council voted 9-0 to provide $200,000 from the Economic Development Fund to Pilot Hill Inc. to close a funding gap on a new trailhead. Project proponents said the facility will include parking, vault restrooms, a shelter and staging areas and support tourism and local recreation.
The Laramie City Council on Feb. 4 approved a $200,000 contribution from the Economic Development Fund to Pilot Hill Inc. for construction of a new trailhead and associated site work. The motion passed 9-0.
Pilot Hill Inc. and its board described the trailhead as a multipurpose facility at the east end of Willett Drive that will include an open-air shelter, permanent ADA restrooms, school-bus drop-off, parking, staging areas, a bike repair station and separate equestrian access. Project proponents said the trailhead is intended to route visitors through Laramie, supporting local restaurants, lodging and retail.
Charlie DeWolf, chair of the Pilot Hill board, cited an economic analysis by the University of Wyoming's Center for Economic Analysis estimating the trail network could direct about 45,000 out-of-town users into the city and "add $5,800,000 in added value to the regional economy and a million dollars annually in sales, lodging, and property taxes," he said.
Pilot Hill told the council it has secured significant funding but faced a budget shortfall after construction bids rose. Pilot Hill reported $1,957,160 in secured funding and said a $1,000,000 Wyoming Outdoor Recreation grant is part of its package; the board expects additional county support, and private and university contributions. Project proponents said the project's total infrastructure cost estimates rose during design and are now nearer $3 million; they reported a remaining funding gap of about $375,000 before the city contribution and said they are pursuing value-engineering and other grants to reduce the gap.
City staff recommended using available, unallocated monies in the Economic Development Fund rather than general fund or recreation mill proceeds. The city manager said the fund holds proceeds from prior economic-development agreements (including rent proceeds from a city-owned building leased to Trihydro) and that the Economic Development Fund is intended to enable pay-it-forward investments that attract economic activity.
Some councilors asked whether awarding city economic-development dollars to a recreation facility sets a precedent. Councilor Lockhart asked whether the Economic Development Fund is the appropriate source. The city manager and several councilors said outdoor recreation is a recognized economic driver in Wyoming and argued the trailhead is consistent with the fund's purpose. Councilor Newman asked how the city would track economic return; staff and Pilot Hill offered to report usage through trail counters and event data and to provide follow-up metrics to council.
The approved council action authorizes the mayor and city clerk to sign the fiscal amendment and to allocate $200,000 from the Economic Development Fund for the Pilot Hill Trailhead project; project-specific implementation details and any contract awards remain subject to standard procurement and permitting processes.
Laramie City Council members voting yes: Bowling; Freed; Lockhart; Newman; O'Doherty; Shumway; Beehill; Richardson; Cumby.
