Parks director reports rising Nordic pass sales and plans for limited grooming while agreements are finalized

Parks Director Michael Brown reported steady Nordic pass sales to the Natrona County Parks Advisory Board and outlined near-term grooming plans while certain operating agreements are finalized with other parties.

Brown gave current sales figures: "We've sold 482 adult season passes, 240 youth and 78 day passes," and said sales continue online and at the county office. He said the county will add a full-time staff member on Feb. 1 whose primary duties include lodge maintenance and checking trail passes to educate users about park rules.

On grooming, Brown said operating and grooming agreements for the Babylon area were on the county commissioners' agenda but were pulled for further work; he expects the agreements to be signed in roughly two weeks. In the interim, he said county staff will begin limited track-packing and then grooming where feasible, noting that some built areas (the firing line and penalty loops) are not designed for general recreational grooming and will not be groomed.

Brown and board members also discussed single-track trails used by fat bikers and other users, confirming that trail passes are required for skiing, snowshoeing and other nonmotorized winter uses on designated trails. He said the county will provide staff guidance to direct skiers, snowshoers and bikers to appropriate routes to reduce user conflicts.

Next steps: Brown said staff will continue outreach to the grooming club and county departments, and said he will post updates on the Nordic blog and county website when the operating agreements are finalized.