City of Powell River officials are exploring funding options to build a skills bike park and upgrade the existing skateboard park at Powell River Recreation Complex.
Advocates of a bike park packed the committee room at city hall for the August 29 committee-of-the-whole meeting. Councillor Russell Brewer explained that youth had been using a vacant lot in Westview to build jumps, but the lot had been recently cleared. “That mobilized the youth and a number of others to re-energize the topic of getting a bike park built in town,” he said.
Andrew Shostak, a teacher with the Kelly Creek Outdoor Adventure program, made a presentation to council about three years ago requesting the city consider building a bike skills park, Brewer said. Powell River Cycling Association has also written a letter requesting the development of a bike skills park next to the skateboard park at the recreation complex.
Brewer said two things missing were the approval to develop a park at the recreation complex and funds for the design. “Once you get that, I think you’ll get the entire community putting a lot of resources into it,” he said.
The project would include designs for upgrading the skateboard facility as well, Brewer said, as the two are related. He suggested that the city approach Powell River Community Forest Ltd. to advise the board of what the city would like to do and seek funding from the community forest reserve.
Marie Claxton, city clerk, reported she had received 83 signed letters in support of a bike park. They were from members of the public who live in the Powell River area, she said.
Bill Reid, director of parks, recreation and culture, agreed that there was a need for a skills bike park and it made sense to locate it next to the skateboard facility.
Councillors directed staff to research funding and subsequently, Reid wrote to Greg Hemphill, president of the community forest board of directors, requesting funding for the design of a bike park as well as an upgrade of the skateboard park.
Reid has written another report about improving the skateboard park, which is on the agenda for the September 11 committee-of-the-whole meeting. He recommends that council direct staff to include provision for upgrades in the 2014 parks, recreation and culture department’s budget.
