The public comment period is now open for feedback on two sites proposed to host a mountain bike skills park.
City staff have now suggested sites at 43 R Riel Dr. and Gloucester Park in Grandin for consideration after council rejected the Liberton Park site earlier this year due to public opposition.
“The direction from council was essentially ‘we still want to see this project developed. Go see if you can find another site that is more suitable or has less opposition to it.’ At the end of the day, it’s going to be the call of council,” said Chris Jardine, St. Albert’s general manager of community and protective services.
The two sites were selected from an original list of more than 42 sites.
The public consultation period opened last week and will continue until Jan. 24.
Feedback options include email, filling out an online survey and attending public open houses planned for Jan. 15 and Jan. 18.
The Jan. 15 open house will be held at Sir George Simpson School from 6:30 to 8 p.m. The Jan. 18 open house will run from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Grandin Clubhouse.
Jardine said there are pros and cons for both proposed sites.
Some examples of cons at Gloucester Park, some homes do back onto the area. There would also be a loss of a soccer field.
But, on the pro side, the mix of a flat area plus trees is highly desirable for the cyclists, and there is a pre-existing parking lot.
At the Riel site, Jardine said cons include the fact that there are some development restrictions in place and that the site can get a bit wet.
The pros for that site are its central location and the fact that it wouldn’t disrupt any residents.
“That area is currently not used for anything,” Jardine said.
The mountain bike skills park advisory committee has already had members going door-to-door in Gloucester dropping off information for residences that back onto the park, Jardine said.
Some surveys have already started coming back to the city.
“Based on the feedback, we’ll pull it all together, we’ll sift through it and we’ll report back to council,” Jardine said. Council will have the final decision.
More information on the mountain bike skills park project, including the details on how to provide feedback, are online at www.stalbert.ca/bike-skills-park.
