PETITION CLOSED

  • The time period for signing this petition has ended.
Summit County Right to Ride Act - To prevent land practices that restrict equestrian access
  1. Signatures
    299 out of 1,000
    Petitioning
    1. Summit County Council Chair (+ 4 others)
      Petitioning
      close
      • Summit County Council Chair (Claudia McMullin)
      • Summit County Council Vice Chair (Chris Robinson)
      • Summit County Council (John Hanrahan, M.D.)
      • Summit County Council (Sally Elliott)
      • Summit County Council (David Ure)
  2. Created By
    Park City Equine Partnership
About this Petition Petition Letter Petition Updates

 

 

 

Horse Riders of Summit County - Your support of trails and public land use is urgently needed. 

Sponsored by:  Park City Equine Partnership (PCEP) a non-profit equine conservation organization providing recreational, sporting and economic opportunity for equestrian enthusiasts. PCEP's mission is to preserve open lands for public equestrian trails and horse parks, thereby creating a world class, year round, multi-disciplined equestrian destination in Park City, UT.  www.PCEquinePartnership.org 

The right to ride horses on public lands has become severely restricted in recent years. Through high density residential and commercial developments; lack of trail easements; lack of public trail heads that can accommodate equestrians and the paving of public trails systems.  

 The Right to Ride Act if turned into legislation would ensure that anyone wanting to enjoy public lands on horseback will have the right to do so.  After all, public lands, should be made available for the public to enjoy.

There is a historical tradition of horseback riding on public lands in the West that dates back over a hundred years. The Right-to-Ride Act ensures all trails, routes, and areas will remain open and accessible for sportsmen and women that choose to enjoy public lands on horseback.


The Summit County Right to Ride Act is based on legislation presented by Back Country Horsemen Association passed in Montana, Michigan and Missouri. 

 

 

 

Why People Are Signing
Recent Signatures

Create legislation to protect horse riders right to ride on public land in Summit County

Honorable Summit County Council Members,

The undersigned, Petition Summit County to act on the proposed Park City Equine Partnership (PCEP) “Right to Ride Act” to preserve and promote horseback riding on Summit County public lands. We believe the Right to Ride Act is necessary to prevent - and reverse - current land manager practices that restrict equestrian and other trail user access to our public lands. We urge you to adopt the Right to Ride Act into Summit County legislation. Thank you for your continued interest in our equine heritage and equestrian recreation in Summit County.

THE PEOPLE OF SUMMIT COUNTY, UT, who have signed this petition, declare that:

A. A COUNTYWIDE SYSTEM OF TRAILWAYS WILL PROVIDE FOR PUBLIC ENJOYMENT, HEALTH, AND FITNESS; ENCOURAGE CONSTRUCTIVE LEISURE-TIME ACTIVITIES; PROTECT OPEN SPACE, CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL RESOURCES AND HABITAT FOR WILDLIFE AND PLANTS; ENHANCE THE LOCAL AND STATE ECONOMIES; LINK COMMUNITIES, PARKS, AND NATURAL RESOURCE OPPORTUNITIES FOR RURAL-URBAN EXCHANGE, AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION AND THE MARKETING OF FARM PRODUCTS; AND PRESERVE CORRIDORS FOR POSSIBLE FUTURE USE FOR OTHER PUBLIC PURPOSES. THEREFORE, THE PLANNING, ACQUISITION, DEVELOPMENT, OPERATION, AND MAINTENANCE OF SUMMIT COUNTY TRAILWAYS IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE STATE AND IS DECLARED TO BE A PUBLIC PURPOSE.

B. THE USE OF TRAILWAYS AND EQUINE ACCESS LOCATIONS FOR SADDLE ANIMALS IS COMPATIBLE WITH THE MANAGEMENT OF LAND.

C. THE COUNTY SHALL PRESERVE AND FACILITATE THE CONTINUED USE AND ACCESS OF SADDLE ANIMALS ON ALL TRAILWAYS AND EQUINE ACCESS LOCATIONS ON STATE OWNED LAND. ADDITIONALLY, ALL TRAILWAYS AND EQUINE ACCESS LOCATIONS ON STATE OWNED LAND THAT WERE AVAILABLE FOR USE BY SADDLE ANIMALS AND WERE SUBSEQUENTLY CLOSED SHALL BE REOPENED AND MADE ACCESSIBLE FOR USE BY SADDLE ANIMALS.

D. NOT LATER THAN JULY 31, 2011, THE SUMMIT COUNTY COUNCIL IN CONSULTATION WITH PARK CITY EQUINE PARTNERSHIP, SHALL ESTABLISH A MASTER PLAN OF TRAILWAYS ON PUBLIC OWNED LAND THAT MAY BE USED BY SADDLE ANIMALS. THE NETWORK OF SADDLE TRAILWAYS SHALL INCLUDE THOSE TRAILWAYS AND EQUINE ACCESS AND PARK LOCATIONS ON PUBLIC OWNED LAND.

E. THE DESIGNATION OF A TRAILWAY FOR SADDLE ANIMALS DOES NOT PRECLUDE THE USE OF THE TRAILWAY FOR OTHER USES AS DESIGNATED BY THE COUNTY.

F. THE COUNTY, IN CONSULTATION WITH PARK CITY EQUINE PARTNERSHP SHALL FACILITATE THE INCLUSION OF OTHER PUBLIC AND PRIVATE LANDS WITHIN THE COUNTY WIDE NETWORK OF SADDLE TRAILWAYS TO PROVIDE FOR A COMPREHENSIVE NETWORK OF SADDLE TRAILWAYS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.

G. A PERSON SHALL NOT USE SADDLE ANIMALS ON STATE OWNED LAND EXCEPT ON TRAILWAYS AND EQUINE ACCESS LOCATIONS THAT ARE OPEN FOR USE BY SADDLE ANIMALS.

SPECIFICALLY, THE COMMUNITY IS ASKING SUMMIT COUNTY TO INCLUE THE FOLLOWING IN THE COUNTY MASTER TRAILS AND PARKS PLAN: Create Non-Paved Trailway Transportation Connectors to and from Equestrian Neighborhoods; Provide Trail head parking for horse trailer access; Remove existing trail head barriers that are too narrow for horse riders to access; ensure the safety of equestrians using public trails (bridges, tunnels, signage, education) and provide public equestrian recreation facilities to support the equestrian recreation demand in W. Summit County.

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