Give Horses Access to Equestrian Trails at Charlotte Park

Yes please!

We need places to ride off the main roads

PLease reopen these trails!!!

Please let our young riders trail ride with Ashley!

From the memorandum of Understanding: "The Park shall be used for non-commerical, passive forms of outdoor recreation and nature study only, auch as birding, hiking, x-c skiing, horseback riding and picnicking." Why are horseback riders being refused the use of this area?

Please open this to parking and horseback riding on the Town Park and Wildlife Refuge.

This petition seems silly to me. The only reason the trails are "closed" is because of the condition of them and the potential for them to be damaged by heavy horse use under extremely wet conditions . Access to the trails has always been available across private land (mine) and I readily and happily allow horses across to make available the town park to riders. The ONLY reason, the SOLE reason I asked riders not to cross my land this summer was because of real concerns for the trails bc of the amount of rain we have had this summer. Please consider that no one wants to deny you the right to ride on the Town Park and Wildlife Refuge. The basic concern for the trails is all that is at stake. When it is deemed all clear I am more than happy to allow access. The sole purpose of the park trails was not exclusively for horseback riders but for pedestrians as well. This is not about "lack of generosity" or anything of the sort. It is a wise choice to protect the park and its trails. The trails are not permanently closed and there is absolutely no intent to deprive riders from riding on them. First and foremost show respect for the Park itself and its trails.

Can anyone shed more light on this? Horses ARE allowed in this park, but due to trail conditions they've been temporarily closed to horses. Is the town refusing to reopen them? Also, there is no trailer parking so most of us can't ride there anyway, which frustrates me. I'd like to see a petition for trailer parking.

As an avid rider, and former resident of Charlotte, I’m very disappointed to learn that land, given specifically for equine use, is continually denied it’s purpose. The Rockerfellers would be disheartened by this lack of respect for their generosity.

Please open the park.

It’s special for Charlotte to have dedicated equestrian trails, and so consistent with the Town’s culture. The Town should restore horse access to the Charlotte Park equestrian trails, to maintain the intent of the landowner who donated the Park to the Town.

Please

You can't deviate from a donor's intention. Rockefeller donated the land with the purpose of horse riding to occur on it. Just as if a donor were to give money for XYZ-specific causes as a nonprofit I'm pretty sure it's illegal to then spend it on other causes. Kind of what the board of Charlotte Park and Wildlife Refuge are trying to do here...

In 1995 Steven Rockefeller initiated this land donation to Charlotte. In a speech to the town he stated that, “The objectives are as beautiful as the property: to provide public access for walking, jogging, horse riding, cross country skiing, picnicking, birding, nature study and the enjoyment of the landscape. Ordinances state that plants and trees are to be left untouched and they also prohibit pets, fires, alcohollc beverages, overnight stays, camping. There is an experimental nature to all this as the Selectboard adjusts to this new responsibility under a management plan.” So why are horses no longer allowed?

Would love a new spot to ride!

Can’t wait to ride in the park!

It was open to horses in the past should be now

Open the trails they’re made for horses.

Access for all to enjoy the beautiful surroundings of charlotte as intended with the original plan of the CP&WR

It would be great if the trails were opened ip