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04-11-12 | 07:38 PM

#13

H-Bear

Senior Member

Joined: Feb 2009

Posts: 235

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From: Houston, TX

Bikes: Scott

You can see how wildfires impacted our state parks and, more importantly, you can support the restoration of these Lone Star natural treasures by visiting Texas Parks & Wildlife.
Note: Our weekly enewsletter will be distributed Thursday morning with additional news to help you prepare for next weekend's BP MS 150.

Update on the 2012 BP MS 150 Day 2 Route

For many years, the Bastrop and Buescher State Parks route has been a beloved Day 2 tradition of the BP MS 150 fundraising ride. Last fall, the most destructive wildfire in state history incinerated these areas, destroying 96 percent of the 6,565-acre parks. Because of extensive damage that still remains to these areas and their internal system of roadways, we have made the necessary decision to safely bypass the Bastrop and Buescher State Parks this year.

Since September 2011, the National MS Society has worked closely with officials
from Texas Parks & Wildlife, the Texas Department of Transportation, the BP
MS 150 Safety Committee and our leadership volunteers on evaluation of park conditions and roads severely impacted by the intense fires. While officials continue working to repair and eventually reopen park roads, recent storms have caused additional damage and raised the need for more repairs.

The safety of our cyclists, volunteers, support crews and staff is the priority
on ride weekend. This is the rationale – based on the support and expertise of our Texas parks and transportation colleagues – for our informed decision to safely bypass the parks.

Riders will still have two route options on Sunday morning, April 22, from the
Fayette County Fairgrounds: the Bechtel Challenge Route and the Pfizer Lunch
Express. This year, the Bechtel Challenge Route will continue down FM 153 and merge onto Hwy. 71.

For additional safety, participants should encourage friends and family to use
US 290 and I-10 as alternate routes into Austin on Sunday ( see alternate route map). This will help reduce the volume of passenger vehicle traffic sharing Hwy. 71 with all BP MS 150 cyclists. It will also help supporters avoid heavy congestion on Hwy. 71 and reach Austin in time to watch their cyclists cross the finish line.

We anticipate resuming the park route in 2013 and offering this scenic option to our cyclists.

In the meantime, Bastrop and Buescher State Parks – and our neighbors in these areas – need our support. Once the parks reopen, we sincerely encourage you, your family and friends to visit them; visitor fees pay for about half of all operating costs,
which go toward ongoing fire damage repairs.

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