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RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING EQUESTRIAN, BICYCLE AND SNOWMOBILE USE ON APPROVED SECTIONS OF THE DWP TRAIL CORRIDOR AND ELYS PEAK TRAIL.
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CITY PROPOSAL:
WHEREAS, Section 35-6 (b) of the Duluth City Code states no person shall operate any motor vehicle or bicycle or ride a horse in any area of any park except on the roadway portions of streets, or highways, or parking areas in such park, and
WHEREAS, the establishment of special trails or paths for such use requires city council approval.
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Duluth city council hereby states its intention to allow equestrian, bicycle and snowmobile use on approved sections of the DWP Trail Corridor and Elys Peak Trail as conveyed in the maps attached hereto as Exhibit A, B, and C.
Statement of Purpose
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE: This purpose of this resolution is to establish portions of the DWP Trail Corridor and Elys Peak Trail for equestrian, bicycle and snowmobile use. Section 35-6 of the Duluth City Code states no person shall operate any motor vehicle or bicycle or ride a horse in any area of any park unless a trail or path is established for such use through council approval.
Trail segments recommended for equestrian use in non-winter months that were not so designated previously are the Ely Peak Ski Loop, Clyde Connector Trail and a roughly four mile section of the DWP Trail between Becks Road and the Clyde Connector Trail. The portion of West Skyline Parkway is already designated for equestrian use. The Elys Peak Ski Loop was modified in 2018 by the city in partnership with Duluth Area Horse Trail Alliance to withstand summer use of both hikers and equestrians. The Clyde Connector was restored and reestablished in 2018 to provide multi-use access to multiple trail systems while contributing to a 9-mile equestrian trail system. The DWP Trail Corridor is an existing hardened rail bed well-suited to accommodate the weight and soil disturbance potential of equestrian use and is directly connected to Elys Peak via the Clyde Connector Trail. Per the DWP Trail Technical Standards and Trail Use Plan, a roughly four mile section of trail is recommended for equestrian use. The map attached as Exhibit A is specific to equestrian use.
The length of the DWP Trail System from Spirit Mountain to Mission Creek Forest Preserve is recommended for bicycle use. The entirety of the Clyde Connector from West Skyline Parkway to the end of 95th Ave West is also recommended for bicycle use. The DWP rail-bed section is the largest remaining section of trail development in the Duluth Traverse Trail System and provides a vital off-road connection between the Spirit Mountain and Mission Creek trail centers. It also connects the greater mountain bike trail system to the proposed Elys Peak Advanced Mountain Bike trails with direct access to parking. Consistent with the DWP Trail Technical Standards and Trail Use Plan, a 15-mile per hour recommended speed limit is advised. The Map attached as Exhibit B is specific to bicycle use.
The only additional trail segment recommended for snowmobile use that was not so designated previously is the Clyde Connector Trail from West Skyline Parkway to the end of 95th Ave West. Per the DWP Trail Technical Standards and Trail Use Plan, a 15-mph speed limit is advised when on shared use portions of the DWP. The map attached as Exhibit C is specific to snowmobile use.