It's been a while since we gave you an update on the status of the Fells Trail Planning Process.

The DCR held a meeting on May 4th with the stakeholders (NEMBA, AMC, Mass. Audubon, Sierra Club, Winchester Family Network, Melrose Dog Owners Group, Friends of the Fells). They presented a Draft Trails Plan for the Fells that goes a long way towards correcting the access inequities that the mountain bike community has experienced for over twenty years at the Fells.

However, we believe that it is all at risk.

DCR began taking immediate fire from the conservation groups and especially Friends of the Fells (big surprise). They all claim that DCR may not make any changes to the current plan because a Resource Management Plan (RMP) has not been completed for the Fells. DCR is required by law to create an RMP for every park. However, the law does not say how or in what order DCR must do an RMP - or that it is barred from making necessary changes to parks it manages in the absense of an RMP for a park.

The calls for an RMP are obstructionist. Period. An RMP is a long process. It is likely that once an RMP is initiated, additional stalling efforts will happen to prevent any change from occuring.

That is why we believe all DCR's hard work on revising the trails policy at the Fells, all the fair and open meetings, all the letters from you - all of it - may be at risk. DCR knows what the right thing to do is: implement the plan they created. The problem is that they may be swayed by whomever yells the loudest at this point.

ACTION NEEDED NOW: Contact Commissioner Sullivan directly and tell him that DCR needs to, at a minimum:

• Make Orange Trail Shared-Use
• Implement new Winter Closure Policy of March 1 - March 31
• Make more marked loops available out of existing legal trails

Commissioner Sullivan's email is: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

We would also encourage you to contact your elected officials at this time as well - even if you have already done so. DCR needs to hear loud and clear that they should implement their Draft Plan.

Find your elected officials here: http://wheredoivotema.com/bal/myelectioninfo.php

Don't be afraid to express your outrage (appropriately) that DCR is backing away from their planning process and yielding to those who can't share A PUBLIC RESOURCE THAT WE ALL SUPPORT THROUGH OUR TAX DOLLARS.