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Residents and businesses push for more single-track trails as Castle Rock grows
Summary
Public commenters and local business owners urged the council to plan more single-track trails and fund maintenance; speakers said trails are cost-effective, increase home values and recommended parks staff assume responsibility rather than rely on volunteers.
During unscheduled public appearances, multiple residents and a longtime local bike-shop owner urged the council to expand Castle Rock's single-track trail network and to assign maintenance responsibility to Parks and Recreation.
John Lante told council that trails are a "cash cow," citing more than 50 academic studies and an ROI calculator he provided to council and said new nearby developments (Brickyard and Millers Landing) will add roughly 1,500 residents. "You spend 1,000,000 dollars improving or building mountain bike trails and the economic benefits pay for themselves over a short period of time," he said. Local business owner Mark Veil added that the town now has "approximately about 30 miles of single track" and that a mile of soft-surface trail costs substantially less than a mile of concrete path.
Council members thanked the speakers and suggested follow-up: one member asked parks staff to review the packet Lante submitted and consider whether parks and rec should take on trail design and maintenance. Staff acknowledged that volunteer groups have done much of the maintenance to date, that some volunteer capacity limits exist, and that staff will look at budgeting options for trail maintenance and potential partnerships with trail organizations such as CAMBA.
