Want to support the Hill’s Hill Mountain Bike Park?

 $400,000 in Community Preservation Act (CPA) funding for the Hill's Hill design and build was approved in February – there is one final step: Town Meeting needs to okay the funding when it meets in late April.

 We need to reach out to our Town Meeting Members with our support of the Hill's Hill Mountain Bike Park, and to get friends and neighbors to do the same.

 Step 1:

Find your Town Meeting Members here: Arlington Town Meeting Member Finder

 Step 2:

Put together your talking points.  There is just ONE action item for this project that MUST be included in any communication:

 "I am wholeheartedly in favor of providing nature and recreation opportunities to underserved tweens and teens, and I urge you to vote YES on Article 49 to approve funding for CPA projects, including the Hill's Hill Mountain Bike Park, as overwhelmingly recommended by the CPAC".

 However, the more personal your appeal, the better. Here are some quick tips to make your contact more memorable:

  • All outreach - however brief, even a few sentences - is deeply appreciated and will show our support

  • If you have a child, their outreach is particularly impactful, especially since the property was deeded for child recreation purposes. (but again, any outreach makes a difference!)

  • Please include your street address in the end of the e-mail – although it’s encouraged to reach out to any Town Meeting Members that you know, the Town Meeting Members in your home precinct are the ones technically representing you

  • Talking points you may wish to include in your own words (more at www.hills-hillpark.com):

    • Mountain biking is a low-impact way for all ages to enjoy nature

    • Exercise and nature are some of the best ways to fight the teen mental health crisis

    • Mountain biking is accessible to families who don’t have the time, money, or inclination for traditional team sports

    • Hill’s Hill is currently not being utilized in any meaningful way, even though it is supposed to be recreation land for children.  Trails will be multi-use for walking, running, biking, etc. 

    • Kids can bike there independently via the bike path, rather than need driving

    • This project will be designed to protect the overall tree canopy and be environmentally sensitive; the Tree Committee will be involved

    • The project will go through the standard design process with opportunities for public input

    • There are dozens of athletic fields in town – this is a small footprint (half the size of a standard baseball field) and a fraction of the pricetag.

Step 3

Reach out to your Town Meeting Members.  Face-to-face conversations have the most impact but you can contact them in the way most comfortable to you.  The ones in your precinct are the best but feel free to reach out to Town Meeting friends in other precincts.  If you are e-mailing, please send individual emails rather than one mass email.

 Step 4

Encourage your friends to learn more about the project and contact their Town Meeting Members as well!