A few ideas, opinions, since they already have the mega resort atmosphere development going on maybe trying to keep burke away from that would be a better option, give the two mountains two different identities, jay has the championship golf course, maybe burke could go with a disc golf course, something more family friendly, free wheeling, how about a zip line set up, anything that will promote being outside, its what we're good at in the NEK IMO.
Jay has the aquatic set up, does burke need another, build the bike park but maybe instead of the aquatic playtime add in a skateboard/bike park, something that promotes board riding outside of an artificial wave. Something that non skier kids in the community will have access to and may spark a fire other than cannonballing their buddies. There are some really cool skatepark designs that would be usable for bikes and boards, blades. A LOC park on steroids.
Speaking of which, the burke ski park is great, those guys/kids have done an amazing job, but having them intermingled in the lower lift line is, how can I say it, sometimes a little offensive. Their teens, so its liveable, but since the willoughby quad is sitting there just getting test run, why not make it the park lift, cut it in half so it unloads at the end of fox's, turn one of the lost trails below it on skier's left back into a big park, leave the lower park park give the older kids and younger kids learning to ski some space and elbow room.
In contrast, don't worry about making more elbow room in east bowl, leave the exploratory aspect of it in place, it would be cool to see a couple trails in the paradigm of the wildcat valley trail switching through that bowl, those trails end up having their more expert shots open up naturally and it allows for a long, mellow ski that the kids/intermediates can do, they aren't fast but are stimulating in their own special way, I see no need for the hack job to make runways for people to side slip all day, going out to east bowl doesn't need be different, it slows you down, almost makes you have to take in the views, if you want speed, go to Jay, leave burke with the chance to ski with some reflection and time. In that vein I see no need to expand it's lift access, its a relatively small area, it is unique because it isn't the easiest thing to navigate, not everything needs to be spoon fed. There used to be a time where it was OK that you couldn't do everything all at once, it challenged us to learn, the challenge makes you appreciate it more IMO, grading and cutting everything to appease the weekend vacationer is unnecessary IMO, burke doesn't have the ridge terrain of J, they should at least leave the woods we have intact as much as possible to keep that challenge. Oh, and and arcade? really, ditch it, put in a yoga/space for body work classes, the kids can go bike, skate, ski, hike, have options for people to get back in touch, not remain out of it.
good luck OTB
one more, still like the idea Ginn had with the farm development, there gonna be betting the massess there to pay and play, be nice to see the food come from the area as much as possible and who doesn't like seeing a good farm
