News Briefs - Southeast

IMBA Trail News
Volume 15, Number 3
Summer 2002

Louisiana is successfully working to boost last year's IMBA report card grade (a D+). The Baton Rouge Area Mountain Bike Association (BRAMBA) is developing Louisiana's first National Mountain Bike Patrol unit and has already enlisted 20 members.

The East Baton Rouge Parks and Rec Department has a new tractor to aid their work on the Hooper and Comite Trail Systems thanks in part to funds provided by a Recreational Trails Program grant and BRAMBA.

Louisiana cities Lake Charles and Baton Rouge are teaming for a cross-state race series. Jolly Rogers Bike Club in Lake Charles is sponsoring their race in Sam Houston State Park and BRAMBA is hosting the Baton Rouge event.

South Carolina's Palmetto Trail continues to grow thanks to the leadership work of the Palmetto Conservation Foundation. The 425-mile cross-state trail is about halfway complete and will soon grow by seven miles with a new section in Spartanburg County. More info: palmettoconservation.org.

In nearby Gaffney, South Carolina, the Overmountain Victory Trail has a new three-mile section open to bikes. This National Historic Trail will eventually include 10-plus miles of great mountain biking.

Eureka Springs, Arkansas, hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially honor mountain bike trails at Lake Leatherwood City Park on June 1, National Trails Day. The Mayor of Eureka Springs, the Eureka Springs Parks Administrator, and the Arkansas State Trails Coordinator were on hand to recognize the volunteer efforts of the Ozark Off Road Cyclists. More info .