Quote from Paul Voight on March 18, 2021, 5:17 pm

More, (Better) information from Gary Trudeau:

Hi Paul

 Thanks for posting my email

 Sorry I did not explain more about the situation I was just finding out about this development yesterday evening. In about 2015 we lost our landing area for Mt. Greylock. In 2017 working with Mass DCR and the town of Adams I received permits and was given permission to reclaim this unused land and create a landing area for Mt Greylock at the base of the mountain. We got over 60 pilots together cut down hundreds or trees, dug up the stumps and buried the stumps creating a large field for our LZ 1200 x 600 feet in just one weekend. The LZ is mostly fat and plenty large enough to safely land for both HGs and PGs. Now the town has new people in charge and they are planning on putting buildings, trees and their nature center all over the area we currently land in. Losing the landing field at the base of the mountain will essentially shut down flying at Greylock. I appreciate any help pilots can give to help save flying at Greylock. I am trying to schedule a meeting with the people in charge of this project. Hopefully I can save our Landing Zone 

Gary Trudeau

Quote from Brian Vant-Hull on March 20, 2021, 11:44 am

I responded and said that the flying community is not adverse to having a nature center, so long as it is planned in concert with the flying community to prevent incidents.

It's too bad the council is trying to take advantage of all the hard work the flying community put in, but if the center is nestled against the bottom end of the glen it would keep some separation and be beneficial to everyone.    I think having it there would mean some effort could be put in by the city to keep it cleared, while using the flying activities as an attraction.

Quote from barry.morse on March 20, 2021, 11:56 am

I also responded. My response may have some inaccuracies regarding Mt Greylock. Gary - if you could give us some boilerplate text, we could each personalize it in our response. BTW: The free text comment block is on the last page of the survey, so keep going until you get there.

 

Here's what I said:

"

I am a member of the New England Paragliding and Hang Gliding Club, the Hudson Valley Free Flyers, and the US Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association. I am writing primarily out of concern that the planned development will put an abrupt and untimely end to an existing use of part of the Glen for hang glider and paraglider landings. Hang gliders and paragliders have been part of the Greylock landscape and community for a long time. Being unpowered, hang gliders and paraglider need a nearby location to safely land. The proposed development includes the landing field that was cleared by club members for landing use.

In addition it is highly likely that the planned development will draw corporate events, such as full-day retreats and team-building events, because that's where the money is. The park will have a hard enough time balancing the needs of the private users with corporate cash cows. If existing users of the park are forgotten or ignored right at the outset, at least one segment of current users will be irrevocably shut out.

It needs to be understood how rare safe and accessible HG & PG flying sites are in the Northeast, and all are threatened by development; even development with laudable intentions. I have been flying unpowered hang gliders since 1976. The struggle to find, develop, and maintain, and defend attractive, safe flying locations has been going on almost exactly that long.

The pilots currently use a level part of the Glen about 1200 feet long and 600 feet wide. I, and I think the unpowered flying community, too, would like to find a way to welcome more nature lovers to parks and to coexist with them.

If there is any possibility to have a longer discussion before plans are finalized, we would welcome that discussion.

 

Quote from janeskygal on March 22, 2021, 5:53 pm

I wrote this:

Hi, I am a hang glider pilot going into my 36th year in the sport. Needless to say, anything worth sticking with for 36 years must bring a lot of joy... and it sure does! Not only do I love to fly, but the community of free flight pilots has become family to me. That is special indeed!

It is beyond dismaying to think there are plans in the works that could take yet another precious flying site away from us, especially one as special as Greylock. The struggle to preserve the places we fly has been going on as long as free flight has existed, and continues to be an uphill struggle. Construction in the middle of the field we currently land in would pretty much kill the free flying activity we enjoy at Greylock.

I believe we could be an excellent complement to a nature center and recreational attraction, and I implore you to please consider leaving enough room for us to continue landing in the field in question. I think co-existence would not only be possible, but mutually beneficial.

The proposed developments would benefit from having free flight pilots continuing to land there in the following ways:

- High spectator appeal on both the summit launch, and in the landing area. The excitement of watching a flight about to happen complements a hike to the summit beautifully. Also, he anticipation and excitement of watching gliders fly and land is not only appealing, but is actually an example of nature education in action. As pilots, we appreciate, respect and engage with nature in a way most folks never get to do. I believe it is a wonderful complement to the overall intent of developing the site as a recreational and educational center.

- Perhaps the free flight community and the Greylock Glen community could possibly share in some of the upkeep.

Greylock is a rare and special site to the free flying community, and it would be a terrible loss to us if we were no longer able to fly there. Not only is it a beautiful place, and has excellent topography that is conducive to great flying, but with a paved road to the top it is freely accessible to ALL pilots (and spectators!) whether they own a 4x4 truck or a car. (Unfortunately, lots of flying sites are restrictive because they are only accessible by 4WD truck, so Greylock's paved access is well appreciated by many!)

The free flight community is grateful for Greylock because of the direction it faces. Wind direction and speed are critically important when it comes to free flight, and Greylock makes launching and flying possible on days when we can not fly anywhere else.

Please, please work with the free flight community and include us in your plans to develop Greylock Glen as a recreational and educational site. We have a lot to offer in return.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Jane Lenard
Hudson Valley Free Flyers