The Bartram Ghost Town

[MootsMan]

I've noticed for the last several weeks that the Bartram parking lot is nearly always empty. Could this have something to do with the KEEP OUT signs that the GA Forestry Commission has erected at EVERY entrance to the forest?

Oh, I did see a couple of cars full of folks getting ready to poach some fish from the pond that used to be reserved for war vets and children. Doesn't seem like that long ago that the Union Recorder ran a feature spread on what a wonderful green space resource this was for M'ville maybe they oughta take another look at it.

Sure the River Greenway has taken some folks from the forest but likely not the cyclists and trail runners. Pretty sad to see the KEEP OUT sign at the trailhead and the missing trail maps and most of the other recreation oriented signage.

Yeah, yeah, state budget cuts, no replacement for the Director yada yada yada I know all the politics behind it but I submit that Milledgeville remains one of the few places in the solar system where access to 1000's of acres of green space can slowly collapse without a veritable uprising. And as Bartram goes, so may Selma Irwin go.

For those of you who haven't ridden long enough and/or been around long enough, I need to remind you that we once had one sweet set of trails in Milledgeville that no longer exist at all.

[Benny]

This is a terrible state of affairs. my illness has kept me from going to the regular Bartram rides and I was not aware of the signs. I talked with Bo Edwards yesterday and he was also pretty depressed about the situation.

It seems that the Georgia Forestry people would like to let Bartram as a recreational resource just quietly slip away. I see no reason that we should grant them such a cloak of silence.

I do remember the sweet trail system on GCSU land by hwy 49. It was a great loss when they closed those trails to cut and sell the timber. I also remember that they had initially planned to do that a couple of years before they finally did so. A small group of people raised a public stink about the loss of the trails and managed to get a delay in the college's plan to sell the timber. I was interviewed by channel 13 in Macon about it and I recall an article in the Union Recorder with several people interviewed about the trails.

Bud, if you would like to write a letter addressed to the county and state officials discussing the value of this property as a recreational resource, we could pass it around to as many people as we can find who have enjoyed the trails and views at Bartram to sign an attached petition to save Bartram. We can take the signed petition to the papers and to every official we think might be able to help. Our state senator, Johnny Grant serves on a land use committee and could be very helpful if enough voter pressure was applied to make him consider going against the party line.

The only way "access to 1000's of acres of green space can slowly collapse without a veritable uprising" is if WE fail to act. If we don't speak out, who will?

[C.U. Allezter]

I assure you that at least my absence at Bartram lately has been due to unfavorable weather/trail conditions (i.e.- it's been wet!). The current lack of a director at Bartram Forest is troubling, though. Even more bothersome is the disappearance of the trail maps at the trailhead. It does seem as though someone does not intend for the public to enjoy this resource. Bud, do you have any idea who is overseeing day-to-day operations at Bartram?

[MootsMan]

GFC says they put the signs up because folks were doing "bad things" in the forest. Well of course they are with no oversight (due to the vacancies which are hitting all state agencies) I'll be glad to follow Benny's suggestion of drafting a "position letter" or something to that effect.

[hthrlngstn]

Saving Bartram and consequently Selma Irwin is something that needs to be done. However, before you start calling or sending petitions, know that Troy is relatively new to this position. He was pleased that the job had been given to Bo Edwards (I know they work well together). It is not his fault that the budget cuts removed the job from the market and subsequently dumped it in his lap. I think the petitions, phone calls, etc are a great idea and will atleast remind the powers that be how much the area is used and is needed by the public. Some of them need to go higher up the food chain than Troy. He is following orders -just like the rest of us. Troy will not be at the ORGA meeting tomorrow but I will talk to him some more later this week and I meet with him on a regular basis -one of his responsibilites is that he serves on the Oconee River Greenway Authority board. I will gladly act as a mediator for our club and interests (I love being advocacy queen!!). I think Johnny Grant as well as Bobby Parham are also good places to start and I believe they are at home now.

[hthrlngstn]

I suggest people call his office and ask "do we or do we not have access?" BTW, I talked to Troy about this a few weeks ago and I know we have access.

[hthrlngstn]

I talked with Bo Edwards yesterday and he was also pretty depressed about the situation.

I know I interrupted you guys Saturday and perhaps Bo did not get the opportunity to let you know that he is not giving up without a fight. He has tons of experience in this arena (he kept Lockerly going for 30 years!) and has a plan! Perhaps we can help him.

[JimT]

Hey guys, all I have to say is that you all are doing a great job!

Being here in Chico California I see what potential Milledgeville has to be among the great cycling towns and it is great to see you all spearheading it.

Chico has opened my eyes how great a place a town could be with an active cycling community. Hopefully when I get back and become more "settled-down" I would love to become an advocate to promote cycling in Milledgeville....

Anyway keep up the great work, I know you all dont get enough pats on the back for all you do so here is one from me.

Take care and I will eventually posts pics and ride reports from Cali.
P.S. The climbs here are EPIC....

Jim

[MootsMan]

I understand the situation with who's watching the forest. I had contact with Bob Farris (Director, GFC) regarding this issue last spring. At that time he was the interim director but has recently been appointed the permanent director. He expressed complete support for community access and expressed appreciation for the many hours the community has put into the forest. He also suggested that I talk with Troy regarding our efforts to keep the trails up, etc., which I did and he was also quite supportive. My point is that a lot of people will not know that we have "de facto access" and will not enter when they see a Keep Out sign. Also I feel that there could have been some contact made before the signs were put up. As a user of this area for 15 years, I've been through many ups and downs with it from many hours of work to confronting illegal activity in the area. I've no doubt GFC folks are suffering, as are all agencies, with the budget cuts....but life goes on. But hey, if the consensus is that this discussion serves no good at this point then I will not be offended if "Ben the Admin" kills it!

[Benny]

I'll be glad to follow Benny's suggestion of drafting a "position letter" or something to that effect.

Thanks, Bud. I think that you are uniquely qualified to write that letter. You have the first hand knowledge of what it took to develop the trails at Bartram and the relationship you had with John Gormley that helped keep things going. You have also been one of the steadiest users of the trails. Last but not least, you have a passion for the trails at Bartram and Selma Irwin that will come through in your words.

So write your plea and we'll do all we can to make sure it is read by the people who can do something about it. We will also do what we can to stir up public demand for keeping Bartram and Selma Irwin open and maintained as the valuable natural recreational and educational resources they are.

[Benny]

I know I interrupted you guys Saturday and perhaps Bo did not get the opportunity to let you know that he is not giving up without a fight. He has tons of experience in this arena (he kept Lockerly going for 30 years!) and has a plan! Perhaps we can help him.

Bo made it clear that he has no intention of giving up. He definitely has our interests at heart. I will do all I can to help him.

He seemed to think he has a much better chance of having his position funded in next year's budget. Let's hope there is something remaining for him to manage.

[C.U. Allezter]

Maybe after the BATTY ride we can host a BARS (Bikes Are Recreation, Son) ride @ Bartram:) Seriously, though, it does sound like this is a situation that could get worse if we don't make use of Bartram. I'm planning to go ride Thurs, and I hope to see you there.

Adam

p.s. I think there might be a Selma ride that day as well. As has been mentioned, these areas are more or less one and the same. It all counts. Go ride a trail Thurs!

[hthrlngstn]

Can we talk about the "take a kid mountain biking" at our meeting? Perhaps that would be a great "awareness" opportunity. I know people that live close to the Bartram Trails that were not aware that they were there.

[Benny]

But hey, if the consensus is that this discussion serves no good at this point then I will not be offended if "Ben the Admin" kills it!

You getting paranoid in your old age, Bud? Where did you get that idea? The only suggestion I saw, which I'm sure you would support was to be careful about casting blame in our discussions so as not to inadvertently harm people who are supporting our goals.

Open discussion on the forum will always mean that ideas will come up that need to be further discussed. Every post is not a conclusion.

[lizhavey]

Some of us are fortunate enough to have this Monday off for Labor Day! Anyone interested in an early morning ride if it will stay dry enough? I was thinking 8:30 or 9AM.

[Benny]

Can we talk about the "take a kid mountain biking" at our meeting? Perhaps that would be a great "awareness" opportunity. I know people that live close to the Bartram Trails that were not aware that they were there.

I think this would be a very timely event for creating more awareness of what a great resouce we have and the importance of preserving access to it. We can definitely make time to discuss it at the meeting Wednesday night.

[Benny]

IMBA's Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day
Saturday, October 4

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