12/13/05
Town staff to review club's proposal for ski trails at
Gull Crest
Town staff will review a proposal from the Cape Nordic Ski Club to improve,
maintain and establish trails in the Gull Crest area for cross-country skiing.
At the Dec. 12 meeting of the Town Council, representatives of Cape Nordic
presented their vision for a 2.5-kilometer ski trail utilizing an outer loop
on the Town-owned Gull Crest property, a 150-acre parcel located approximately
between Spurwink Avenue and the Town Center.
Town Councilors welcomed the idea, but first wanted to consider possible
impacts before approving the club's proposal.
"I'd just like to make sure we have all our i's dotted and our t's crossed,"
said Town Councilor Mary Ann Lynch, who along with the rest of the seven-member
council voted to refer the proposal to town staff and to the Conservation
Commission.
Town Manager Michael McGovern said that grooming is permitted now on parts
of the existing trails, but that clearing more trails would require coordination
among other interests.
Parts of the property are used for Community Garden as well as for snowmobiling
and for School Department uses, McGovern said. The Town will also need to
look into permitting requirements of the state Department of Environmental
Protection, which in the past has been a stumbling block to trail construction.
Cape Nordic is proposing to supply labor to clear and help in the design
of the trail, as well as keep the trail groomed for cross-country ski races
and practice, said past club president Muzzy Barton. Barton, currently coach
of the Middle School Nordic ski team. Barton said a groomed trail would provide
a safe, pleasant venue not only for skiers, but for runners, mountain cyclists
and snow-shoers as well. "I feel that often of the most important aspects
of this is the greater good of this trail for the whole community," Barton
told councilors.
Cape Nordic
(http://www.capenordic.com/) formed
in 1993 to promote cross-country skiing in the schools and community. Currently
85 families and 80 students participate, with children as young as 4 or 5
starting on the life-long road to exercise and good health.
The Gull Crest parcel's proximity to school property, and easy access to
parking, make it ideal for this use, Cape Nordic officials said. "Currently
all of our athletes go and train in Cumberland," Barton told members of the
council. Middle-school and high-school skiers travel to the Twin Brook recreation
facility as often as three times a week, at a cost of $88 per trip.
Developing ski trails at Gull Crest would save the expense of that travel,
and would allow the younger Pond Cove school students, who don't get out
of school until after 3 p.m., to also participate. It would also provide
an local venue for hosting competitions.
Town Councilor Carol Fritz said she would not like to see the town incurring
cost to establish the trails, and was concerned about the 300-500 people
that club officials said a ski competition might draw to Cape Elizabeth.
"I do think there are a lot of other issues," Fritz said. "I think bringing
all those issues back in a comprehensive package makes sense," she said.
Town staff is expected to report to the council with a more comprehensive
proposal in February.
Councilor Paul McKenney said, "I think once the details are worked out, we'll
support this."
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