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Black Mountain Nordic outlines free trail grooming, school programs after $10,000 GPET award
Summary
Black Mountain Nordic told the council it grooms more than 30 miles of winter trails in Sheridan County, does not charge users, and used a $10,000 GPET award toward a tracked ATV (about $23,500) that helped leverage roughly $35,000 in total funds; the group described new after‑school programs and a near‑complete $40,000 winter fundraising campaign.
Black Mountain Nordic described its winter trail operations and community programming at the Sheridan City Council meeting Jan. 5, telling council members and residents the nonprofit grooms and maintains more than 30 miles of trails across Sheridan County and does not charge the public to use them.
Nick Flores, the nonprofit’s executive director, said the group grooms trails at sites including Cibulu Lake, South Park, Malcolm Wallop Park (the Green Room trail), Kendrick Golf Course (Double Eagle trail) and Centennial Park in Story. Flores said the organization purchased a snow‑capable ATV (about $23,500) in October, using $10,000 awarded from city GPET funds to help leverage roughly $35,000 total for the purchase and modifications.
Flores emphasized the nonprofit’s free‑access policy. "We don't actually charge anybody to recreate on the trails that we groom and maintain," he said, and added the group seeks donations and runs a winter campaign (goal $40,000) to cover maintenance and equipment repairs; Flores reported the campaign was about 98% complete as of Dec. 22.
Black Mountain Nordic also detailed new youth programming: an after‑school Nordic program launched at Henry A. Toffeen Elementary (15 children participated in an initial session) and the group plans a two‑day‑a‑week after‑school program with the Sheridan YMCA for third through fifth graders, snow dependent. Flores said the group is working with local schools and the community to lower barriers to winter recreation and to promote high‑school and junior‑high teams.
Councilors and attendees praised the outreach; one resident noted that high‑school students can’t always afford equipment and thanked the group for keeping access free. The council welcomed the presentation and thanked Flores for the group's volunteer efforts.
Next steps: Black Mountain Nordic will continue programming and fundraising; councilors said they appreciate the group's role in expanding winter recreation opportunities and will monitor the winter campaign and program rollouts.
