DeForest community looks for common ground on mountain biking

A large crowd of invested residents attended the Tuesday, March 5 DeForest Village Board meeting to share their input on mountain biking in the village.

The discussion was civil and constructive. It served as a starting point for village leadership to begin addressing public complaints regarding hazardous riding, concerns for wildlife and the growing youth interest in the sport.

The board eventually made referrals to the Public Services and Planning and Zoning committees for both bodies to study the situation and recommend options moving forward. The vote passed 6-0; Trustee Brian Taylor was absent from the meeting.

One key aspect of the discussion was the need for clarity regarding recreational and conservancy spaces.

At the meeting, several residents shared personal encounters with mountain bikers riding recklessly while walking on the village’s passive recreation paths. A specific area of concern was the Yahara River Corridor.

Other residents brought concerns for the environment, as some mountain bike paths are currently on land zoned for conservancy by the village. Disrupting ground nesting birds and causing erosion in the area were two possible impacts of mountain biking brought up by residents.

Also in attendance were residents in support of DeForest’s growing youth mountain biking club, and a crowd of club members themselves.

DeForest middle schoolers, Louie and Annie Dean addressed the board during the time for public comment. Annie explained what the club and sport have given her since she picked it up:

“What mountain biking means to me is whenever I just need some time, I hop on my bike and look at the nature on the path. While I’m doing it, it brings me to my happy place. If I had a mountain biking place in our community that I could ride my bike to and get exercise, that would be a game changer for me. I’ve made lots of new friends in this mountain biking team, please consider this.”

In 2023, the DeForest Mountain Bike Team grew its coaching staff from four to 17. Since 2021, ridership in the club has grown from 28 to 50.

Most residents who took time to share the concerns also expressed support for mountain biking in the village. Ultimately, there was consensus between those in attendance, village leadership and staff that the answer was not to outright ban mountain biking in places it currently takes place.

However, many asked the village for more clarity regarding what types of recreation are allowed and where. Village President Jane Cahill Wolfgram stated that at one point in time, DeForest did look to purchase property and dedicate it for mountain bike use but plans fell through.

These efforts initially spurred from the 2022 mountain biking ad-hoc committee, which has since been folded into the recently created Public Services Committee. Cahill Wolfgram mentioned that work regarding the future of mountain biking in DeForest had not stopped and was still ongoing.

The board expressed a desire to study wildlife impacts of mountain biking and future options to meet the desires of both sides.

A staff report authored by Director of Public Services, Judd Blau summed the discussion up well:

“The bigger issue that needs to be addressed... revolves around the Village’s policy over conservation areas and areas reserved for recreation. Primarily the classification and definition of parkland versus conservation in DeForest’s zoning and land use ordinances.”

The report continued by clarifying that most multi-use trails weave through conservation districts and that parks are allowed in such areas and residential ones. Thus, a ban on mountain biking in conservation areas would also do so in some parks and all paved trails.

Zoning regulations, community concerns and youth interest have made possible solutions for the situation complicated. Trustee Jim Simpson mentioned that the conversation is happening at a good time during Tuesday’s meeting.

The village is about to undertake developing a new Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan over the course of 2024. The spaces where mountain bikes will be permitted, new or old, will most likely be covered in that plan.

One resident, Jennifer Hayden may have summed the conundrum up best on Tuesday while addressing the board.

“I would ask that you see this not as an ‘either-or’ but a ‘both-and’, and that we can try to find a way to come to some sort of understanding that meets the needs of the conservancy and the bikers,” Hayden said.

To find a solution, village staff will take time to study possible environmental impacts of mountain biking in conservancy areas and analyze courses of action. Recommendations will eventually come before the village board for possible approval.

Residents wanting to keep up with the discussion, share input or even be a part of the process should keep their eyes on future Public Services and Planning and Zoning meeting agendas for the topic.