Guerrilla Strike #2! UPDATE!!!

WE NEED YOU!

Mission:  Clear the entire West Papio Trail system from Blondo to Lake Zorinsky.
When:  Sunday January 17th.  1-pm start or whenever you can help.
Where:  Multiple Locations along West Papio Trail (see below)

UPDATE!!!!!!
As of Saturday 1-16-10 I've checked most of the West Papio Trail from 144th & F to 160th & Blondo.  Some areas have had a truck and plow drive the trail, while other sections have had no snow removal at all.  Below are specific areas that need addressed.  Click on the embedded link to see a map of the area.  Feel free to attack any portion you wish.  If you're using only a shovel you're needed at bridges and underpasses mainly.  If you're using a snow blower you're needed more on the straightaways.  See below for more information.

Southwest:  144th & 'F' Street (24-hour fitness) 2-Stage blower required. Trail runs from the bridge that crosses 144th Street and runs behind (north) of 24-hr Fitness and continues to the 'Y' shaped split that takes you to Lake Zorinsky (southwest) or north down the West Papio trail.  Start from 24-hour fitness parking lot and work your way as far as you can.  This portion has not been touched and is snow-packed.  You'll have to hike across a portion of snow that have been pushed onto the trail by whoever plows the 24-hr Fitness lot.  Once on the trail you'll know what to do. 

Scutt High School:  156th & W. Center.  2-Stage Blower and shovels.  Trail runs behind Scutt high school both north and south directions.  There is a pedestrian bridge to the south that will need shovel and blower work.  This bridge is at the 'Y' split that connects to the 24-Hr Fitness portion of the trail and to Lake Zorinsky.  If you work your way north you'll travel underneath 156th Street and further down you'll travel underneath W. Center Road.  Some portions of the trail have been cleared by truck from W. Center north. 

Bridge at Bob Boozer and Morton Elementary.  Snow shovels and blower.  This section runs through a park and behind Morton Elementary school.  A pedestrian bridge crosses the Papio creek and boarders Bob Boozer Drive.  Shovels will be needed to clear the bridge and drifts north and south of there.  Snow blowers could be used as well to go north or south as needed.

Pacific & Bob Boozer underpass:  Blowers and Shovels.  The west Papio Trail travels under Pacific street at this location then continues west for a while.  All equipment is needed here!  You can park in the parking lot of 159th Ave and Pacific and work your way west up the trail to the Pacific bridge I mentioned or north down the trail to another pedestrian bridge.  The pedestrian bridge I mentioned can be reached by another small parking lot seen here.  These areas need a lot of work the last I checked.

Dodge to Pacific:  Open trail with no bridges along this section.  This area needs snow blowers since it's a long open stretch.  You can park near 164th and California (north of Dodge) and work your way south under the Dodge overpass or park near 163rd and Chicago (south of Dodge) and work your way north or south.  I've been told that the trail has been cleared from Dodge to Blondo.

Blondo North/South:  This is where I will start.  Blowers and shovels needed to work both south and north.  Mainly south.  This is a trail hub near a park and is a good location to have as a Start location to open the trail.  There is an underpass under Blondo as well as a 1-mile stretch of open trail.  I plan to work my way south from the park at 160th and Burdette right near the tennis courts.  This is also the location I suggested that the news media meet us.  There may be media here unless a more dramatic story needs covered.

We only need to clear enough snow to allow pedestrian or bike travel.  We don't need to clean the entire width of the path. 

Things to consider:  WE ARE ALL VOLUNTEERS and ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR OWN ACTIONS.  If you get hurt or injured or damage your equipment only YOU are responsible.  No one is in charge of this effort.  No one is asking you to perform any duties.  We are only conveying information about snow blockages along the West Papio Trail.  If you choose to take action and clear snow you are doing so as an independent volunteer under no ones direction.  There is nothing illegal about clearing snow from public trails as long as you are only clearing snow and not violating any other laws.  Do not drive on the trail, damage property or litter, please.

Note:  BRING YOUR CAMERA so that you can share photos of your work.  No matter if you clear 10-feet of path or a mile, we want to see your handy work.

Remember our goal.  To open up the entire West Papion Trail to pedestrians and cyclists.  Any amount of snow clearing will be appreciated by people who need this trail opened.  If we fall short, that's OK.  The reward comes from knowing we entered the battle, not necessarily that we won the war.  Be careful, dress warm, bring food and water and extra gasoline. 

The West Papio trail network runs from West Maple Road to Lake Zorinksy approximately 8 miles. Multiple neighborhoods back to the trail.  I have sent an email notice to most of the neighborhood associations asking for their help.  I've received positive responses!  Along this trail there are segments that have been cleared, but like the Keystone there are entire stretches that haven't been touched as well as bridges that are impassable.  This can not be done with four or five people.  We need an army!  Preferable an army of people armed with 2-stage snowblowers.  We will need people with shovels and chippers as well along sections where there are bridges.

I will try and recon this area as much as possible and report back specific locations to address.  Gather up all the people you can who can help.  Network and spread the word.  Local media will be notified of our efforts so plan to be part of the movement and make an impact!  We also need people with pickup trucks to transport snowblowers to areas around the trail.  Some people have offered their assistance but have no way of transporting their snowblower to various locations.  Use the Facebook page and or Twitter to communicate and form your army.  Together we can do this!  Think of the statement this will make to see an army of citizens clear an 8-mile trail segment and open it back up for pedestrian and bike traffic!