He called the skills course proposal "an opportunity to embrace the work of a creditable organization." He said county money would not be spent on the project, and MORE volunteers would be required to maintain the course.
He likened installing a course where mountain bikers can learn or hone skills to building ball fields for other enthusiasts of other sports.
Byrd asked the opponents to consider whether they would work together with the county to move the project forward, or had they "drawn a line in the sand?"
"We dream about having organizations [such as MORE] that we can count on," Byrd said — especially, he said, because his department is short 12 maintenance workers.
Taylor called it "crazy" for anyone to think that a biking skills course won't act as a magnet and draw more visitors to a park where trails are already overused.
"I'm a hiker and walker and I don't want to feel uncomfortable," she said. "There's a natural tendency to stay off the trails when bikers come."
Advisory board member David Grabowski suggested, and Byrd agreed, that a second community meeting should be held, and that a notice would be sent out.
