Announcement of Major Breakthrough - March 10, 2010

Citizens for An Open Greenbelt (COG)

 

We are announcing a major breakthrough in our efforts to assure there will be an open Boise River Greenbelt in Garden City.  …and we need your help.  Lots of help. 

 

The Boise River Greenbelt in Riverside Village area continues to be off limits to bicycle riding, even though the Citizens for an Open Greenbelt (COG) attempted to resolve this issue with both the State and Garden City.  Garden City identifies this section as their “nature trail” and has enacted a law to prohibit bike riding punishable by a fine, yet it is an integral part of the Boise River Greenbelt system.  Adding insult to all Greenbelt users, Garden City has now posted numerous signs banning any use of the Greenbelt in their city limits from dusk to dawn - it is off limits to anyone!  No other city or county has taken this action on their sections of the Greenbelt. COG believes that the Boise River Greenbelt belongs to the public, not just Garden City or the residents of Riverside Village, and that Garden City does not have the authority to prohibit bike riding. 

 

We believe our only recourse is to seek legal action.  Three experienced and qualified Boise attorneys devoted to our cause have come forward to help us. They have generously offered to contribute their time pro bono and believe a civil action is both sensible and winnable. 

 

Even with our attorneys' generous donation of their time, we will need a legal fund to begin this action.  This fund will cover hard expenses such as the cost of depositions, expert witnesses, filing fees, court costs, etc. This means we will need donations to support this cause. Whatever funds are not used will be donated to a local non-profit bicycle organization. 

 

More good news is that COG is now a 501 (c)(3) tax exempt organization.  Whatever you contribute is tax deductible on both your federal and state taxes. 

 

COG is in this for the long haul, fully dedicated to a valley-wide open greenbelt for bike riding enthusiasts and families as it was envisioned from the start.  But nothing this important will come easy.  We have the energy and dedication to pursue this and we hope you do too. If you believe in a truly open Greenbelt for the Treasure Valley, and that Garden City officials have chosen to ignore their obligations to the many for the interests of a few, then please help – any amount you can contribute will help.

 

Please mail a check to COG / 6093 N Gull Rock Pl / Garden City, ID 83714 (with your e-mail address on your check).  Or click here to send funds via PayPal or Credit Card (If you prefer not to click links, you can go to PayPal.com and make a payment to COG2010@cableone.net  …Or go to the Donations page at www.idahocog.org   

This is great news for all citizens of Idaho who expect government to abide by it’s agreements. We hope you share this sentiment and we thank you for any amount you can donate on behalf of COG.

We would be very grateful if you would send this message on to others who might be interested in our cause. 

 

Gary Segers

on behalf of the Citizens for an Open Greenbelt