C O G -- Citizens for an Open Greenbelt
C O G
- a tooth on the rim of a wheel or gear
- a subordinate but integral person or part
- a group of people that believes the Greenbelt is for the open use of ALL citizens and can not be seized for exclusive use by a select few simply because it is their will.
Citizens for an Open Greenbelt is a 501(c)(3) unincorporated non-profit association devoted to protect, preserve and advance
Announcement of Major Breakthrough
- March 10, 2010 click here to read the message!
OUR MISSION
“COG is a grassroots advocacy group dedicated to supporting the stated goal of the
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Thank you each and every one for your support and every donation both large and small! WE ARE OVER THE TOP! Our legal fund campaign goal was accomplished in just 5 weeks! Next step is to visit our 3 wonderful pro bono attorneys with check in hand for the escrow fund that will cover the hard costs of proceeding...
IMPORTANT NOTE: You will find several broken "links" on these pages. In most cases, we posted the link AND the original content that was found there as evidence of fact. You can be sure that the content is correct, but as we post "evidence," Garden City and the Riverside Village HomeOwner's Association remove the content from their pages.
They have also pressured outside sources to change their pages. For example, the BSU Biology Department page on the Boise River Greenbelt used to cite "...the blockages in Garden City at the Plantation and Riverside Village as the missing links that prevent the vision of the Greenbelt to extend all along the river from Lucky Peak to Eagle Island."
THE PROBLEM
Garden City has posted signs on the Bike Path in Riverside Village to prohibit bicycles. In May, 2007, Garden City passed an Ordinace making it a misdemeanor to ride a bicycle where they have posted such signs. Since then, as prescribed by State Law, they have reclassified the offense to be an Infraction.
Their justification? Garden City officials have told the public, residents of Riverside Village, and the media that the Riverside Village Greenbelt has historically been a "Pedestrian Only" Path. The myth is that it was privately owned and it was originally built for the exclusive use of Riverside Village residents. Over 250 pages of public documents in our possession and interviews with many key public officials say that this is absolutely untrue!
THE TRUTH...
The construction of the Bike Path in Riverside Village was required by the State of Idaho as a condition of approval for the Riverside Village development in1980. Most startling of all the nonsense since then regarding access to this path, is the fact that in 1994 the State of Idaho sued the developer, Idaho Forest Industries (John Evans, Manager) and Evans Brothers Construction Company for failure to abide by the provisions of the "1980 Agreement." The lawsuit reminded the developer that these are public trust lands from which the public could not be restricted and required them to permanently remove the "No Trespassing" signs. It also required them to complete the BIKE Path in Riverside Village! When this was settled in 1996, John Evans was the development manager and a member of the Garden City Planning and Zoning Commission. Since that time, he has joined the Garden City Council and eventually, he became Garden City's current Mayor!
For details, plese see our HISTORY and DOCUMENTS pages so that you can judge for yourself!