Photo: Contributed

The Penticton and Area Cycling Association is hoping city council will work with them to retain their mountain biking trails at Three Blind Mice after it was suggested at a recent council meeting that the area be turned into a city park. 

"At this point we're really just trying to figure out what that means, and what it could mean for us," said Terry McWhirter, PACA president. "I'm waiting to hear from some folks at the city as to what that could mean."

The extensive network of trails east of the city at the end of Riddle Road came under fire at Tuesday's council meeting from nearby resident Doug Cox, who said the trails were being left with dead, broken trees that could be wildfire fuel. 

But McWhirter disagrees with that characterization. 

"There were a lot of things that were said that weren't accurate or they were misleading," he said, adding that's not the real concern of PACA at this point. "It's the lack of understanding about what it could mean if it was changed in the sense of its designation, that's what we don't understand."

He is confident that PACA is a good steward of the area, saying they maintain the trails "aggressively."

"That's part of the disappointment or the frustration with all this, is it adds more work to already overworked volunteers, which is what PACA is, it's a volunteer non-profit organization," McWhirter said. 

The 330 acres of city land, only a small part of the full trail network, are currently leased to PACA and a local disc golf club. McWhirter said he hopes to be a part of deliberations at future meetings with the Parks and Recreation committee. 

"We would ask that we could be there as a delegation to be able to answer any questions and provide insider information."

McWhirter has not yet heard back from the city with details about further meetings that PACA could attend.