Why Wirth?
Isn’t it enough that we have snowmaking at Hyland and Elm Creek Park Reserve?

Wirth has a multitude of advantages over these other parks:

• Superior trail system with varied terrain and open areas for instruction.
  
• Five minutes from downtown, making it possible to ski after work without fighting rush hour traffic.
  
• High population density.
  
• Located in area with tremendous economic
  and cultural diversity – meaning that skiing
  will have the potential to reach new audiences.
  
• Consistent with historical use of the Park (Wirth Park hosted Minnesota ski championships as early as 1935) History of Wirth Park.
  
• Integrated with City of Lakes Loppet Trail, arguably the
  nation’s best urban ski trail.

Elm Creek is a terrific facility, but it can’t meet the growing demand:

• During the 2004-2005 season, high school skiers were restricted to one-day-per week at Elm Creek. We should not have to ration high school skiing!
  
• To make skiing a reliable form of exercise for people who live and work in the City, we need a ski center close to the City.

Hyland has a terrific snowboarding area, but it doesn’t work for cross-country:

• The Hyland snowmaking area is only open for cross-country from 7-9 am.
  
• Climbing downhill slopes may be good training for racers, but it does not appeal to recreational skiers.

The demand for high school skiing at Elm Creek is far greater
than the capacity. Last year, teams were coming from as far
away as Lakeville to ski at Elm Creek. Each team was allowed to practice only one day per week at Elm Creek.