Crow Update

Hello, this is John Kangas with a Crow Gliding Area update for June 2nd, 2010. Thus update is about public records we have attained, current news about the Crow Gliding Area, and a meeting scheduled later this week with the City.

As mentioned in our last update, we are exercising our rights to gain access to public records. Regretfully, we are not liking what we are seeing. We never completely understood why our Park and Recreation folks never moved forward after our initial intro meeting. This last week we received material that shows that Boise was planning on sale of the property to Fish and Game long before Boise even owned it. In other words, they were just going to buy and sale the property on behalf of Fish and Game. The City just never shared that detail with us. This is probably why Park and Recreation left us in limbo.

Contained in the information we attained, is a draft memorandum of understanding that shows that the City and Fish and Game were planning a interim management plan that would not allow most outdoor recreational activities on the property. Fish and Game only estimated $2500 dollars a year to manage the property. It looks like that in order to meet that low estimate, anything other than walking was going to be prohibited. This would include Bicycling and Horses. Off leash dogs were also going to be prohibited on the property. In the documents, Park and Recreation Director Jim Hall and Chairman of the Open Space Advisory Committee Chairman Chuck McDevitt indicated to the Fish and Game folks that our quiet Gliding should not be allowed. In stark contrast they then discussed use of short range weapons and fire arm safety at Hammer Flats. It seems clear that Fish and Game always wanted to preserve a hunting option for the property, and by using deer habitat as the "magic words" they could convince the city to limit other activities that would eventually burden their core mission statement (i.e. Growing and Harvesting game.)

We received a more positive note from Jeff Gildehaus a long time glider instructor and full time outdoorsman who flew the Crow Gliding Area for many years. Jeff says this about the Crow. "The fact that 35+ years of flying and the wildlife has been there all along speaks volumes about the compatibility."

Public pressure for the City to do the right thing and open "our land" to compatible use continues to grow. Most folks know in their hearts that we can have lovely deer habitat in areas that people can enjoy too. News channel 7 broadcast a story about the proposed sale to Fish and Game last week. http://www.ktvb.com/news/local/Boise-to-sell-700-acres-on-Hammer-Flat-to-Fish-and-Game-95063454.html

In the interview Mayor Bieter said..."Geographically, it's a pretty important area for hang gliding and we'll certainly work with all the parties as much as we can to accommodate that." The Mayor stated that hunting would not be allowed by the City as terms of the sale to Fish and Game. The story grew more interesting when the Governor of Idaho later said on talk radio that the State would not buy the property unless Hunting was allowed.

Here is an aerial shot of our hill looking NW. Because the Crow Gliding Area is on the city/people side of the Hammer Flats property, next to the existing homes in the area, it represents an ideal buffer and brush fire safety zone for all of the deer brush that Fish and Game plans on planting. It would also be an ideal area to locate a small parking area for our activity and other outdoor recreation going into the Hammer Flats area and up the Cobbs ridge to rivers trail.

This coming Friday, the City has scheduled a meeting between the Idaho Hang Gliding Association and the Chief of Staff for the Mayor along with the President of the City Council. We look forward to the meeting. We know that our Gliding activity is compatible with almost any outdoor management plan, and any willing agency, as we have demonstrated all across our great nation. We believe that we can partner and we are ready to roll up our sleeves and put together a great plan.

Looks like we are making a difference folks. Remember, democracy will only work if we participate. Please continue to call and write to your elected officials. Please Call Mayor Biter's hotline at (208) 384-4404 and share with him how you feel. It looks like he may be sensitive to saving a great outdoor gliding legacy as he works in "Making Boise the most livable city in the country."

Keep good thoughts about saving the Crow Gliding Area, we will see what the Mayor's Office has to say on Friday.

Blaine, Lisa, Patrick, Aaron, and John,