Community Corner

Freedom Trail Closed, New Routes Proposed

Commissioner Howard will hold an open meeting later in the month to discuss bicycle paths and walking trails in the Freedom Area.

The Freedom Trail, a long planned bicycle patch through the Freedom Area in Eldersburg and Sykesville, was closed at its entrance near the Eldersburg Estates last weekend.

"The trail was not approved by the county through their easement, and several vocal residents were complaining to the county that they didn't want the trail behind their homes," said Ross Dangel who organized construction of the Freedom Trail.

On June 5, Dangel and his team of volunteers held the , showing local residents the area where the bike trail would be located. On Sept. 3, a brought the community together to help Dangel clean up the trail-head, and to begin building out the trail by spreading 60 yards of mulch.

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"The mulched trail will serve as the temporary community link, until we can arrange for the formal planning, funding and construction of the switchback and paved trail," Dangel explained in an interview with Patch before the "Trail Blaze" day. "The goal when we are done on Saturday is that we’ll have a trail, and we’ll be ready to start using it, and that will build people’s appetite."

But after the trail was officially announced to the community as "open," it was shortly closed down by the county, and "no trespassing" signs were placed at areas along the path.

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The project was not approved through the Carroll County Government or supported by the Freedom Area Citizens Council, according to Commissioner Doug Howard, District 5.

"I applaud your effort and persistence on what could be an asset to our area," said Howard on the trail in an e-mail to Dangel and local media outlets. "We simply must have a process that provides all involved and the entire community with good, accurate information, public input and a resolution of concerns."

Dangel has since drawn maps of the proposed trail path and presented them to Howard via e-mail.

"I understand fully why you closed it off and legally it's the only thing that could be done under the circumstances," said Dangel in an e-mail to Howard. "Perhaps it's even served to draw more attention to the trail need in our community."

This isn't the end of a bicycle trail and path through the Freedom Area. Commissioner Howard is holding an open meeting on Oct. 27 at 7 p.m. at the South Carroll Senior Center in Sykesville to discuss bicycle paths and walking trails in the Freedom Area.

County staff will be on hand to discuss the trails presently available in the area, proposed trails, and the processes by which trails are designed, developed and implemented.


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