ECOLOGIAL RESTORATION
ER
AT CEDAR LAKE POINT BEACH (AND BEYOND)
"Behind you." I stepped to the side of the walking path and pulled my 75 pound nature loving pup on a leash in closer. "You know biking isn't allowed here, right?" I just had to say it, as the late 30's male dressed in mountain bike gear riding what looked like a nice ride. "You know that, right?" "One more." I stayed aside, keeping my pup reeled in. She followed, outfitted like her biking partner likely heading to Theodore Wirth for some real mountain biking. I repeated. "You know biking isn't allowed here." She was silent. I pressed. "Oh, you're going to ignore it." She answered, "Thank you." I replied, "Pass it on!" Each and almost everyday I walk through these woods, the amount of bike treads that leave their tracks is growing. It's becoming more popular, and will continue to do so if those wishing to protect the area for nature don't do more. Like I wanted to say in a separate blog that I never finished but may some day, nature is like sitting ducks. Every day, they get picked off one acre at a time. We need to become mother bears, actively protecting what's left. My probably oversimplified take on things is that the source of many conflicts can be narrowed down to two things. One is ignorance (aka misunderstanding, and/or miscommunication). And the other is disagreement (aka defiance, and/or arrogance). Ignorance is innocently not knowing otherwise. It can be addressed with communication, education, and maybe a good persuasive argument. Disagreement is knowingly going against something, like a rule, a law, or a norm. Some disagreements are very much justifiable. We are surrounded by countless injustices to assume that a law is a law is a law is not always right or just. But many laws and rules are developed based on a democratic process. . But so it seems we have both, ignorance and defiance going on here. And we have a natural environment that is in critical condition. Ignorance is bliss, until you're informed. I wish the Park Board would assume a more definitive position in standing up for natural areas. The Cedar - Isles Plan established that there would be no development of a two-way soft-surface bike path through Cedar Lake Park's wooded area. But what does that mean to bikers and hikers and anyone visiting this area? Very little. We need a clear and explicit policy that establishes that biking is not allowed in the area. We need clear and consistent signage to communicate appropriate uses and restrictions. We need some kinds of ways to enforce protections. But let's not pretend that this is only about bikers not knowing biking is not allowed through the park. Over the years, No Biking signs have been repeatedly posted, only to be removed by those who don't like them. This week's slapping a Critical Mass bike event poster on top of the No Biking sign at the entrance of Cedar Lake East Beach is an arrogantly defiant slap in the face of Mother Nature. There is considerable work for those trying to protect the environment. We need to work with the biking community who argues that biking is good for the environment. We likely have common ways to work collaboratively towards many common and all too critical goals. And at the same time, maybe we can try to communicate with those who like to party in the wilderness like to do it for the wonderful benefits of being in the pureness of nature, so maybe they don't think it's okay to trash the place.
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March 2024
AuthorI'm Steve Kotvis, volunteer Park Steward for the Minneapolis Cedar Lake Point Beach peninsula who has a newfound love of restoring this natural area and more. I'm learning as I go, and enjoy sharing that with those who have an interest. I'm also a photographer, so the photos in this blog are mine unless otherwise labeled. |