Greg Hudson reports in The Windham Journal that in Tannersville Aug. 17 that the Department of Environmental Conservation presented plans to develop multi-use trails at Mount Hayden, an 806-acre parcel of Wild Forest Area gifted to the agency in 2013. DEC officials said they want to open the parcel to the public and install a series of multi-use trails which could be used for hiking, nature discovery, and mountain biking, but they also wanted to hear what the public wants. “We are not proposing anything tonight,” DEC natural resource manager Max Wolckenhauer said. “We’re here to scope out the public opinion and hear your ideas and concerns.” Hudson reports that opinion was unanimous in support of installing trails for hiking and mountain biking. “We would like to support at least one use of this tract to be for multi-use trails, with mountain biking in mind,” Greene County Department of Economic Development and Tourism president Warren Hart said. “Since the Windham World Cup put Greene County on the map as a destination for mountain biking, the tourism advisory committee has focused on mountain biking with a campaign for mountaintop trail-based recreation.” Greene County Legislator Lori Torgergsen, D-Windham, said the trails could help Windham's tourism industry, and Windham Mountain Resort President and General Manager Chip Seamans thought new trails would increase business at his resort. Public comment can be submitted to the DEC in writing until Sept. 26 about the project, and DEC officials said an initial plan would be released next winter, with more public hearings to follow. Read the full story in The Windham Journal.