One of two St. Albert parks could soon feature dirt jumps, mountain bike trails and other amenities for bike riders of all kinds.
The city held its open house for the proposed bicycle skills park Tuesday and Thursday evening at St. Albert Place.
The two locations being considered for the $200,000 park are Liberton Park and Mission Park (Seven Hills). Both sites were selected as a result of several criteria, not the least of which is size, as the park would feature an expansive array of amenities for riders of all skill levels.
“It’s an urban park in an urban setting and we want to make it for all skill and age levels,” said Malcolm McCutcheon, a member of the park advisory committee and secretary for the St. Albert Mountain Bike Club. “It’s for the youngest to oldest riders. It’s going to be progressive, not just targeting the low and the high end, beginner to advanced.”
Features contemplated for both parks include jump trails, cross-country trails, skills areas featuring beams and bridges, as well as a pump track – a series of corners and bumps that propel the rider around the track. Of the list of city criteria for a site, size is key, calling for sites of at least three acres.
McCutcheon started work on the park back in 2009 and is happy it has come as far as it has.
“At the start it was just getting public interest and now it’s helping opening the park and answer questions. This is pretty big getting to the open house,” McCutcheon said.
The city has acknowledged disadvantages to both sites. Despite their size, space might be an issue, existing infrastructure like ball diamonds might prove problematic and there are homes nearby at both locations.
Also of concern could be the proposed site at Mission Park (Seven Hills). The location is of significant historical importance to the city as well as a popular destination for tobogganers in the winter.
Recreation services director Monique St. Louis said both the school boards and Arts and Heritage St. Albert commented on the idea of having a bike park at Seven Hills.
“That’s why we went to a community consultation,” St. Louis said. “So we can better understand that and make the best decision so we’ll certainly consider that.
As for tobogganers, the site’s disadvantages note competing uses, both with nearby schools and nearby ball diamonds, as well as the fact the jumps and obstacles might interfere with other activities.
“The recreation master plan talks about multiplicity of use so that we can take our parks and more actively have them used, so we can have summer and winter activities,” St. Louis said. “What you don’t want to do is over-program a site.”
Anyone wanting to submit their feedback can do so before Dec. 7 by completing a survey at www.stalbert.ca/bike-skills-park or e-mailing [email protected].
The final selection and park design will be presented to council Jan. 28, 2013 for decision. If approved, a tender will go out in February with construction beginning in the summer or fall.
