Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years
Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years
Fat tire bike trails (shown at the right) and cross-country ski trails (shown at left) have been groomed at the Green Hills Golf Course for recreationists this winter. Volunteers will continue to keep trails groomed as they are needed and as the volunteers have time.
Worland has two ice staking ponds. This larger pond at Veterans Park is adjacent to the skate park. Worland city crews were getting ready to blow the snow off the pond Friday in preparation for users to have fun on the ice this weekend. Another pond is located at Hillcrest Park, but Public Works Director Brian Burky said they pond is "not holding water" and is something that will have to be fixed over the summer.
WORLAND - You don't have to go far to find winter recreation opportunities, in fact you don't even have to leave the city of Worland.
Volunteers helped blaze and groom trails for biking and cross-country skiing just a few weeks ago but the idea was generated last year. Public Works Director Brian Burky informed the council during a December meeting in 2017 that the Powder River Nordic Ski Club had approached him about putting some trails at the golf course. The council granted permission but Burky said they were unable to make progress last year.
This year, he said Lisa Weamer of Larsen's Bicycles contacted him and asked if the idea was still worth pursuing.
Burky said Jeff Yule and Wyatt Molzahn volunteered time and equipment to map out trails for fat tire bikes. Lyle and Shelley Spence volunteered time and equipment to map out and groom trails for cross-country skiing.
The volunteers are also golfers, Burky said, and knew to avoid putting any trails over the greens. Because the greens are sensitive areas, people are asked to stay on the trails and stay off of the greens at the golf course.
Burky said this year he contacted the new golf management company, Propper Golf Management and owner Mike Propp said he thought the trails was a wonderful idea. "He works with the Green Hills Golf Course Clubhouse and since trails go through part of land owned by the club, he got permission from them," Burky added.
Both trails are about four miles long. The bike trail is the flat wider trail and the ski trails are the narrow trails.
He said the Spences, Molzahn and Yule have said they said they would regroom the trails throughout the winter as time allows.
"This is city property. It's a beautiful area. More people can recreate this winter. That's what it is here for," Burky said.
Use of the trails are free for those with their own bicycles and skis.
ICE SKATING
For those who enjoy ice skating, Worland's ice skating pond at Veterans Park, which has been there more than 20 years, is ready for recreationists. The pond is the larger of the two ponds Worland has, Burky said, and is suitable for hockey play.
While snow blanketed the pond on Friday morning, city crews were preparing to blow the snow off. With or without snow, the ice is ready for skating. Burky said crews blow off the snow as time allows.
The pond is adjacent to the skate park at the far east end of the park.
A smaller pond is located at Hillcrest Park but is not holding water, Burky said. He said they have tried repairing the pond but will have to look at a more long-term solution during the summer.
