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Fox Run Aerial Adventure Park:
The BFTA has no official position on this proposal at this time. Much
of what is presented here is second hand so is not to be taken as totally
correct.
Background:
 | The proposal is to install zip lines and perhaps other items such as
swinging bridges on approximately 10 acres in the
Fallen Timbers area of the
Fox Run Regional Park. |
| The contractor would pay the County an annual fee for leasing the area
(I've heard $5,000). |
| In addition, the contractor would pay the County a percentage of the
gate receipts. |
| The feature would use existing parking lot, rest rooms, and park road. |
| A six foot fence will be installed to control access and prevent
vandalism to the structures. |
Pros:
| The County needs additional cash and this could provide a source of
revenue other than taxes. A similar arrangement in Maryland has been
estimated to generate $30 - $50K annually. |
| The contractor has stated that he will maintain the rest rooms so no
additional Park staff will be required. |
Cons:
| The contractor estimated that there would be 200 users a day during the
season.
 | This could easily overwhelm the existing rest room facility
requiring an enlargement. |
| The parking lot would likely have to be expanded. |
| Trash disposal has not been addressed to my knowledge. |
| The existing access road is dirt and might have to be paved to
mitigate dust. Pavement would impact horse riders. At a
minimum the road would probably require grading more frequently. |
| Adjacent homeowners and other park users would likely be impacted
due to additional noise. |
| There likely would be a negative impact on the forest ecology. |
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| What happens if the estimated users fail to materialize? |
| Who is responsible for restoring the property? |
Considerations:
| Any revenue generated should be fenced off for County Park use and not
put into the general fund. |
| There should be a guarantee of a minimum amount of revenue to the County sufficient to
cover all costs associated by this feature. |
| The contractor should be required to place an amount of money into an
escrow account for restoration. |
Last modified: Sunday August 29, 2010
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