Committee raises parking, private‑land limits for proposed NICA youth track

Emery County committee members debated the feasibility of hosting a NICA youth mountain‑bike track on private land after presenters and members raised concerns about parking, camping and site capacity.

Several speakers said the parcel under consideration is mostly private and, based on experience with regional events, a competitive NICA track requires substantial staging and parking—committee members estimated roughly 10 acres or more would be needed to accommodate racers, family vehicles and campers. ‘‘When that track was built, NICA… had a fellow that really felt like, yeah. I am, you know, positive this will work,’’ one member said, but later speakers noted staffing changes and parking shortfalls that made the site unsuitable.

Members argued against spending county funds to prepare the flats for parking. ‘‘I would not spend a bunch of county money trying to make it work,’’ a committee member said, adding that other sites within the county or neighboring counties might better accommodate a large event. The committee advised proponents to visit an established track and to consider moving a course to higher ground off the flats if sufficient property is available.

Speakers also noted that a previous grant had helped construct the trail and that grant‑funded projects typically require dedicated staging areas to remain open for public use for lengthy periods (one speaker referenced contracts requiring a 100‑year public‑use provision for purchased staging land under some grants).

The committee did not take a formal vote on siting the NICA track and recommended further exploration of alternate locations and parking solutions.