News
Entertainment
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. — The Mesa Land Trust's latest project will create a public park linking the popular Lunch Loop trail system off Monument Road to 130 additional acres for mountain biking, hiking, running and dog walking.
The land trust has long protected open space and agricultural lands in and around Mesa County through donations or purchases of land, and conservation agreements with landowners.
Buying the Three Sisters property — three prominent hills give it its name — is a new kind of project for the land trust. Acquisition of the Three Sisters will protect a scenic corridor leading to Colorado National Monument, provide educational opportunities for the public, and improve access to the Lunch Loop.
The property sits on Monument Road and is bordered by Bureau of Land Management and city-owned land. Non-motorized access to the new system of trails is anticipated from Mira Monte Road, as well as from the Lunch Loop parking lot, where there's a sign with maps, photographs and information about the new planned development.
“It's a high profile project for our organization,” Mesa Land Trust Executive Director Rob Bleiberg said. “We're excited about working with an array of user groups.”
The land trust will partner with the City, the Colorado Mountain Bike Association (COPMOBA), the Bureau of Land Management, and other stakeholders to plan and develop the property. The park will expand the Lunch Loop trail network, provide additional points of entry, and ultimately help connect the trail system to the Riverfront Trail.
The project “is a great opportunity for COPMOBA and riders in the area,” COPMOBA Board President Scott Winans said. “The existing trail system is extensive but it lacks beginner and intermediate trails.”
The Three Sisters area will lend itself to beginner mountain bike riders, he said.
COPMOBA will assist in trail design and construction, Winans said.
The land trust plans to purchase the property from a development company, who had once planned to build 130 houses on the land.
The entire project — land acquisition, trail development and environmental education features — is projected to cost $1.6 million. The land trust has raised $1.4 million.
The final $200,000 will be raised with the help of businesses, foundations, individuals and service groups, said Bleiberg, who hopes to close the deal by late spring.
“Our hope is for trails to be opened by summer,” he said. “It will be an asset for generations to come.”
The land trust will negotiate a perpetual conservation agreement with the city to ensure the property will forever be available for non-motorized recreation. The land will then be deeded to the city and be managed as an open space park.
A group of Palisade farmers founded Mesa Land Trust 30 years ago to protect agricultural lands, wildlife habitat and open space in and around Mesa County. Since then, the land trust has conserved more than 63,000 acres.
During its fiscal year 2010-2011, the land trust protected 3,507 acres through 15 conservation agreements. Ten were donated easements, while grant money allowed purchase of development rights of five other parcels.
The land trust has long protected open space and agricultural lands in and around Mesa County through donations or purchases of land, and conservation agreements with landowners.
Buying the Three Sisters property — three prominent hills give it its name — is a new kind of project for the land trust. Acquisition of the Three Sisters will protect a scenic corridor leading to Colorado National Monument, provide educational opportunities for the public, and improve access to the Lunch Loop.
The property sits on Monument Road and is bordered by Bureau of Land Management and city-owned land. Non-motorized access to the new system of trails is anticipated from Mira Monte Road, as well as from the Lunch Loop parking lot, where there's a sign with maps, photographs and information about the new planned development.
“It's a high profile project for our organization,” Mesa Land Trust Executive Director Rob Bleiberg said. “We're excited about working with an array of user groups.”
The land trust will partner with the City, the Colorado Mountain Bike Association (COPMOBA), the Bureau of Land Management, and other stakeholders to plan and develop the property. The park will expand the Lunch Loop trail network, provide additional points of entry, and ultimately help connect the trail system to the Riverfront Trail.
The project “is a great opportunity for COPMOBA and riders in the area,” COPMOBA Board President Scott Winans said. “The existing trail system is extensive but it lacks beginner and intermediate trails.”
The Three Sisters area will lend itself to beginner mountain bike riders, he said.
COPMOBA will assist in trail design and construction, Winans said.
The land trust plans to purchase the property from a development company, who had once planned to build 130 houses on the land.
The entire project — land acquisition, trail development and environmental education features — is projected to cost $1.6 million. The land trust has raised $1.4 million.
The final $200,000 will be raised with the help of businesses, foundations, individuals and service groups, said Bleiberg, who hopes to close the deal by late spring.
“Our hope is for trails to be opened by summer,” he said. “It will be an asset for generations to come.”
The land trust will negotiate a perpetual conservation agreement with the city to ensure the property will forever be available for non-motorized recreation. The land will then be deeded to the city and be managed as an open space park.
A group of Palisade farmers founded Mesa Land Trust 30 years ago to protect agricultural lands, wildlife habitat and open space in and around Mesa County. Since then, the land trust has conserved more than 63,000 acres.
During its fiscal year 2010-2011, the land trust protected 3,507 acres through 15 conservation agreements. Ten were donated easements, while grant money allowed purchase of development rights of five other parcels.
