Show support for Regional Trail through Cromwell Valley

Greetings: this is an important corridor (Minebank Run (or Ma Pa RR)/Gunpowder Falls Trail) recognized within the Eastern BCBP as well as the Missing Links/Maryland Trails: A Greener Way To Go Plan <a href="http://www.mdot.maryland.gov/Planning/Trails/index.html">http://www.mdot.maryland.gov/Planning/Trails/index.html</a>; . We encourage you to spread the word, encouraging folks to join this effort to link the inaccessible, vast natural/recreational resources-so close to Towson -by way of a regional hike/bike trail. Be sure to contact Richard Layman and Jim Smith about this corridor and join us by replying and/or joining our Facebook group: Cromwell Valley Trail Intiative.
Thanks,
Terry Maxwell
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Show support for regional trail through Cromwell Valley
Letters to the Editor
Posted 4/14/10

A public meeting concerning the Western Baltimore County Bike and Pedestrian Plan, will be held April 21 at *censored*eysville Middle School, to obtain feedback concerning potential locations for both on-road bike facilities and off-road shared-use paths that, together, would comprise a bike facility network providing access to parks, schools, neighborhoods, etc.

Over the past several years, I've been contacted by countless residents within the Towson area concerning a growing interest in the development of a hiker/biker trail along Cromwell Valley to the vast, yet inaccessible recreational resources within close proximity to Towson .

Such a trail could start as a bike lane along Cromwell Bridge Road, starting at Providence Road heading north to Loch Raven High School at Cowpens, then an off-road bike/ped facility (shared-use path) from the high school to connect to an &quot;un-tapped&quot; region of wonderful recreational destinations for hiking and biking -- including Cromwell Valley Park (hiking only), Loch Raven Reservoir and Gunpowder Falls State Park, which winds all the way to Belair Road and beyond.

These recreational resources are within close proximity to Towson and are, presently, disconnected and inaccessible because of the hazardous condition of Cromwell Bridge Road .

Also there is no place to park a car at the latter two destinations. Loch Raven High School provides ample parking for evening and weekend hikers and bikers that simply need a connection to the nearby parks.

Our community, as well as many others in the Towson area, are going through a transition with many young families moving in. A trail like this would have an extremely positive impact on the quality of life for our neighborhoods by providing a recreational connection to recreational resources so close to our neighborhoods.

As a result, we are encouraging families in the area join us at the April 21 meeting to express support for the development of this trail corridor, by moving forward with the implementation of a county resolution to conduct trail study for this area, which was approved and then tabled in 2007.

A study would be the first step toward developing this wonderful recreational opportunity for the Towson region.

For more information, or to join the distribution list for updates concerning this effort, e-mail cromwellvalleytrail@gmail.com, or visit us on Facebook.

Terry Maxwell, member, Cromwell Valley Trail Initiative

Towson