Mountain bikers urge donations for Droste

Dear Editor:

Mountain bikers, along with hikers, horseback riders and wildlife, are about to get a very big gift with the acquisition of the Droste Mountain Park open space. Pitkin County has entered into a contract to purchase from the Droste family 841 acres; the land encompasses most of the ridgeline that divides the Owl Creek and Brush Creek valleys.

The acquisition will tie together thousands of acres of open space lands, creating a mountain park encompassing more than 1,300 acres, and allowing a new rim trail connecting Aspen to Snowmass. To view a video with additional information on this exciting project, visit http://www.rfmba.org/droste.

But the $15 million project still faces a financial hill climb. Ten percent of the cost is not covered by public financing, and public donations are necessary to close the gap, even after the deal closes. The Roaring Fork Mountain Bike Association (RFMBA) is asking mountain bikers up and down the Roaring Fork Valley to pitch in. Consider your donation as a down payment on a future of flowing single-track connections between Aspen and Snowmass.

To sweeten the deal RFMBA is offering logo schwag to mountain bikers for their donations to the cause. To qualify, send a copy of your donation receipt along with any sizing information to one of the contact options at http://www.rfmba.org/contact. RFMBA will give away the following thank-you presents for Droste donors (only one per person): a water bottle to the first 20 people who donate $50; socks to the first 10 who donate $100; or a shirt to the first 10 people who donate $250-plus.

Riders can make their donation through the Aspen Valley Land Trust (AVLT). You can donate online at http://www.avlt.org/droste or by mail to AVLT/Droste, 320 Main St., Suite 204, Carbondale, CO 81623. Mark “Droste” on your checks.

We look forward to seeing you out on the Droste Mountain Park!

RFMBA board