Mountain bike trail approved

A license was approved Monday night between Ponca City and the Oklahoma Earthbike Fellowship for a mountain bike trail at Lake Ponca.

City Park and Recreation Director Jim Sindelar presented the request to city commissioners.

"This has been before the Park Board; to a committee which looked at it; back to the full board which approved the concept, and then they took it to a public hearing, with no opposition," Sindelar said.

Sindelar told commissioners the trail will be built around West Lake Ponca, west of the Wentz Camp area.

"it will be constructed mainly on the water side of the roadway, about 30 feet from the high-water mark on the bank," he said. "Construction will be done in such a way to prevent erosion and to maintain the natural flow of rainwater."

The trail will be constructed to accept both novice and advanced riders. Bypasses will be set up in areas where the trail requires advanced skill so novice riders can go around those areas. Sindelar said it will be a narrow structure which will be limited to cyclists and hikers.

Commissioners unanimously approved the agreement.