Urban Paradise Guild participants at Northpoint.

Below is a letter from Sam Van Leer, executive director of Urban Paradise Guild, Miami. It also recently appeared in the Miami Herald.

The letter addresses growing frustration surrounding development of Virginia Key, the island between Miami and Key Biscayne. An important part of the development is a trail system for mountain bikers.

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The Virginia Key Master Plan approved by the city of Miami in July 2010 is based largely on the consensus reached at the Virginia Key Coalition’s Charrette of September 2009.

On Northpoint it protects the unique nature preserves and recreates lost habitats inland, creating new opportunities for recreation within conservation. The modest monetary investments are wise considering the stench that sometimes comes from the sewage treatment facility next door and seasonal presence of mosquitoes and no-see-ums.

A public beach is shared by people during the day and nesting sea turtles at night. Everyone can enjoy the multiuse paths. North Ridge is planted with native vegetation selected to preserve the stunning views of the Bill Sadowski Wildlife Area, Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserve and the city of Miami beyond. A large area is reserved for mountain biking.

Picnic areas are along the beach and the North Ridge. Walking paths allow people to explore the different native habitats found in coastal and inland areas. The campground is on high ground, with exposure to cooling and bug-abating breezes. Services are near the already developed sewage-treatment area.

Buffers between major human uses are absolutely essential to provide visitors with more personal experiences. Quiet nature hikers and wildlife won’t be startled by fast bikers. Campers can enjoy peace without intrusion. Mountain bikers can ride challenging paths free of walking explorers. Mountain bikers were well represented at the charrette’s Northpoint planning sessions and were part of the consensus. The city planning department assures me that 30-yard buffers will be in all final plans.

Oleta River State Park (in North Miami) is frequently mentioned as an example of great mountain bike trails, and it is true that they are fun to ride. What is less understood is that bikers built trails under Australian pines, and expect that the big trees that shade their riding will be preserved. These destructive exotic trees actually kill native habitats and the wildlife that depend on them.

In addition, Oleta trails often wind so tightly that there is very little room for native habitat. The land use is so intense that it is a form of development and is not an example to follow for Virginia Key. Fortunately, there are environmentally sensitive layouts that allow for shared use between bikers and nature.

The 2009 charrette plan should be followed, and Northpoint should never be used as a dumping ground again. How many public meetings must we attend to defend it?

Listen to the will of the public, and please get on with it!

The city of Miami drafted a master plan for Virginia Key, an ecologically rich island on which Miami Seaquarium stands, and the quickest item to implement was a system of mountain-bike trails. After all, no major buildings needed to be constructed and the cycling group that maintains Markham Park’s well-loved trails volunteered to take the lead.

“But the Virginia Key bike-trail project has instead been spinning its wheels for months,” the Miami Herald’s Andres Viglucci wrote in an awesome article today.

He quoted John Voss, a member of the cycling group, who said, “They haven’t done squat, and they haven’t let us do squat.”

Click here to read the full article.