Cyclists will have a new place to test their skills in Black Diamond.
On May 18, council approved construction of a dirt bike track with bumps and berms behind the Oilfields Regional Arena.
The idea came from parks and recreation committee member Paulina Larrey-King, an avid cyclist and Turner Valley RCMP sergeant.
“Biking is just something that my family is interested in and I view it from the perspective of my job and how keeping kids busy is a positive thing,” she said. “When you give youth alternative things to do it’s a lot easier to keep them out of trouble and engaged in positive behaviours.”
The committee hired Calgary company Trail Crew Design to design the track. The cost of the project could range from $15,000 to $25,000, she said.
The committee is raising money and applying for grants in partnership with the Boys and Girls Club of Diamond Valley. It has raised $12,500 to date.
“If we had to pay for all of the material and labour we would be looking at a $25,000 project,” said Larrey-King. “If we get all of those things donated we could do it for as little as $15,000.
“Right now, I’m trying to work on some sources for the different types of soils we need and how much volunteer work we can get out of those that are interested. The biggest cost comes from the professionals.”
Larrey-King said designers know how to create a track with proper water drainage and flow of the berms that allow cyclists to keep going without having to pedal.
“This is something that is easy for very young kids to do as well as teens and grown-ups,” she said. “There is a lot of kids on their bikes all over town and it will give them a place to go.”
Parks and recreation manager Les Quinton said the more activities the town has around the Oilfields Regional Arena the better.
“I like the idea of filling up that area because the more people we have coming here to do different things the easier it is for us to look after it,” he said. “Then we don’t have to worry about someone loitering and hanging around because there is always someone here. We want to have multiple things for people to do.”
Quinton said the operational costs to maintain the track will be minimal.
Frequent inspections of the track and filling in holes or modifying it can be done by volunteers, he said.
“Maintenance would have a minimal effect on future budgets,” he said. “Modifications would require the skid steer and trained operator, which would cost additional funds, but we will work on having the equipment and labour donated.”
Former Black Diamond Mayor Sharlene Brown said the track is a good starting point to offer more recreational opportunities around the Oilfields Regional Arena.
“We’ve had a long awaited plan for the back end of the arena to be a recreation area so this is going to be a great addition,” she said.
