A new central dirt bike terrain park and other satellite bike parks could soon be on the way in Richmond.
Reacting to the imminent loss of the current bike park at the south end of No. 2 Road to development, the City of Richmond has put forward a number of alternatives.
In a report that was due to go before city councils parks and recreation committee Tuesday, staff want to consult the public about siting a new bike park at Garden City Community Park.
And, they would also like people to think about having a smaller satellite park on the Railway Avenue greenway corridor.
A new bike park would be paid for by the developer, Oris Development (Kawaki) Corp., which is building 80 apartments and commercial space at the London Landing site on No. 2 Road.
There is adequate space, currently not programmed, that can accommodate a mid-size bike terrain park and the existing woodlot would buffer the bike park from the pond, said Clarence Sihoe, the citys parks planner, in his report.
Adjacency to a major road such as Granville also allows for informal supervision of the site.
Sihoe said the proposal to set up a satellite park on the Railway Avenue corridor greenway should be studied, as it could lead to a series of smaller dirt bike terrain features dotted throughout the city that would eventually link together with the main site via greenways, roads and trails to form an expanded and fully integrated dirt bike terrain circuit.
Furthermore, building a mini bike park on the Railway Avenue corridor would link to the community facilities at Thompson-Burnett Community Park, added Sihoe.
Given the high level of community interest in the sport of terrain park biking, it is important that the development of a new site be completed with care, attention to detail and in time for the summer of 2013, said Sihoe.
The existing bike park was built in 2003 after sterling work by local residents, with the help of the city and the RCMP, who raised part of the funds for the project.
