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FRP
Expands its Role: January 2014
Friends
of Redington Pass began as an organization dedicated to improving
conditions on Redington Pass. Its early membership included local
hikers, dirt bikers, horseback riders, hunters, and nearby residents.
Initially FRP focused on safety concerns around the shooting areas
near Mile Marker 6 and the interests of non-motorized recreationists.
Over the past three years, FRP has reached out to all recreational
users in the Pass and learned more about its many highly valued
resources and diverse recreation interests as well as the persistent
challenges to assuring safe, clean, and enjoyable conditions on
the Pass now and in the future.
FRP has also learned that in order to meet those challenges, the
Pass needs a strong inclusive network of all user groups to work
alongside CNF and other public agencies. We recognize that we
cannot achieve our original mission nor a broader more inclusive
one unless we also generate a more proactive interest in the Pass
and lean forward to anticipate and advocate for a better future
for the Pass. We must work to bring people together for the sake
of the Pass and our individual and shared interests.
As a consequence, FRP has expanded its vision, mission statement
and objectives as well as the composition of its board to pursue
a new role as an umbrella organization of all friends of Redington
Pass. We will work together to provide a balanced and open forum
to discuss those differences and seek to reach shared goals and
strategies together.
We therefore are expanding the FRP
Board to include the full range of demonstrated
users of Redington Pass who can represent and have standing within
their orgazinations.
FRP
Beginnings: Fall 2012
In
the spring of 2010, the Coronado National Forest (CNF) alerted
the public to their proposed revision of the Coronado National
Forest Working Draft Management Plan (CNF-WDMP), dated March 2010.
This galvanized the interest of several people living near Redington
Pass. On March 18th, we convened an open meeting with the District
Ranger, Stan Helin, and representatives of Game and Fish and the
County Sheriff’s office to discuss issues and answer questions
about the plan and conditions along the Pass.
Under the umbrella of an informal working group that has come
to be known as the “Friends of Redington Pass,” we
registered our concerns through comments submitted April 30 to
the Forest Service that were formally endorsed by the LCE Board,
the Forty Niner’s Homeowners Association, Rinconado Estates
Homeowners Association, Tanque Verde Guest Ranch, Cascabel Working
Group, Cascabel Hermitage Association, Saguaro Juniper Corporation,
Sky Island Alliance, and Environmental and Cultural Conservation
Organization. One hundred and ten individual endorsers also signed
on to the comments concerning the CNF-WDMP.
A
second opportunity arose to provide input to CNF when they issued
a draft Environmental Assessment of Proposed Changes to Motorized
Travel System. During the summer of 2010, a core group of volunteers
went on several field trips with Forest Service personnel to study
the road conditions and discuss specific recommendations for road
authorizations, improvements and closures. This led to the submission
of formal comments on behalf of the Friends of Redington Pass
on September 19th .
We have continued to develop the FRP and expand our understanding
of the issues and progress in Redington Pass.
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