Top 50 Trailhead Project Letter of Support

The Top 50 Trailhead project is located in Piedmont, SD. Click to view a map of the proposed trailhead.

As a supporter of the Top 50 Trailhead project, I understand and agree that the development of this trailhead will create a gateway community for the Piedmont area. This gateway community will create an infrastructure that combines government agencies, communities and a local social entrepreneur working together to achieve one common goal create a low expense, easy access gateway to our new recreational Black Hills trail system. This generates large positive impacts on the regions economy, ecology, safety, and education.

The location of the Top 50 Trailhead at exit 46 off I-90 is ideal for local and out of state visitors enjoying motorized and non-motorized outdoor recreational activities. This easy access convenient location provides a maintained 2 acre location for loading, unloading, short term and long term parking at no charge as visitors enjoy the Black Hills. The private development of this particular trailhead eliminates costly construction, renovation, and any necessary maintaining by local or state and governmental agencies. This convenient trailhead also provides year round access for the following uses:
-USFS Maintenance, Patrolling, and Training.
-Community Educational activities, training and programs
-Emergency Services and Rescues

The development of this easily accessible trailhead affects the economy of the entire Black Hills and directly affects surrounding communities and counties. Multiple users, local and out of state, motorized and non-motorized, can benefit from and enjoy an extended tourism season. Trails give visitors access to many small communities, allowing multiple local businesses the ability to sell a wide range of goods and services. National publicity provided by Top 50 Trailhead and its events encourages tourism utilizing the Black Hills trail system as a top destination for recreational use.

Centralized access to the trail system eliminates the need to create new trail heads, trails and OHV ditch usage thereby eliminating unnecessary soil erosion and dust pollution. Top 50 Trailhead offers a mud bog area designed to allow motorized vehicle enthusiasts to enjoy the activity without destroying the designated trail system or public land.

Top 50 Trailhead leads visitors on a maintained trail under the highway and directly to the trail system. This eliminates injuries and deaths caused by blacktop and hard pack OHV usage, highway and private driveway crossings, and OHV ditch usage. The trailhead will also provide well lit loading and unloading areas to both single and multi-day visitors both motorized and non. Sewer and freshwater will be available on the property as well.

With over 2 acres of private land for public access and use, the Top 50 Trailhead serves as an education and training location for the National Guard, USFS, and other safety and safety equipment. Elementary through college students have a way to access and learn about the Black Hills first hand. Information on the Black Hills trail system, ecology, geography, and botany will be posted on site. Information on training courses, state and area attractions and South Dakota Department of Tourism maps will be available on site.

In conclusion, I feel the development of the Top 50 Trailhead will benefit the Black Hills area in numerous ways and fully support its further development.