Right now, the local BMX track might look a little disturbed, but it鈥檚 only temporary.
蜜桃视频appBMX is simply banking the dirt under tarps and putting it aside so the club can rebuild the track next spring.
鈥淲e鈥檝e torn up the track and stockpiled the dirt,鈥� said president Vicki Schenk.
The dirt is being stockpiled to help it dry in time for work on the reconfigured track to begin, probably in February or March, depending on the weather.
To rebuild and expand the track, 蜜桃视频appBMX has required some additional land from adjacent parking at the site to add to a newly configured track design.
Another change the club wants to make is the replacement of its starting gate. The current one was purchased about five years ago and it is already dated compared with newer rolling barrel gates at tracks in Pemberton and North Vancouver, for example.
鈥淭hey all have the same rolling barrel gate,鈥� Schenk said. 鈥淲e wanted our kids to have consistency on the gate鈥�. All these other tracks are making improvements. You鈥檝e kind of got to keep up with that.鈥�
The organization put together a business plan, which it has presented to the District of 蜜桃视频appas well as other groups in the community that might have an interest.
The plans take into account the evolution of land use over time. In particular, the road into the site has become busier with the construction of the nearby artificial turf field, which presents a challenge for BMX riders because they have to use the road to get around the site. Rider safety is a key concern.
鈥淭he land use has changed, so we redesigned and reconfigured our facilities,鈥� Schenk said.聽
The new plan incorporates this changing land use, although it has required the district to agree to allow extra land to be used for reconfiguring the site.聽
鈥淲e went from a square to a rectangle,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t would eliminate the need for the kids to use the road.鈥澛�
The agreement in principle with the district also changes the terms of the lease from year-to-year to four years and provides $40,000 to help with soil costs.
鈥淲e have some funds. We just don鈥檛 have all the funds,鈥� Schenk said.
The group is providing the labour, and Schenk estimates the cost of the project, including machinery, to be worth approximately $100,000, which is about half of what other clubs in the region have spent on new tracks.
The reconfigured, expanded track is expected to be completed in time for a national event the local club is hosting in June, when riders will come from as far away as Arizona and Florida to compete. According to Schenk, the event usually attracts around 600 riders for both Saturday and Sunday, and another 300 on the Friday. The Sea to Sky Nationals are set for June 3 to 5, 2016.
