A bike skills park could be coming to View Royal.
The TownB次元官网网址檚 parks, recreation and environment advisory committee is in the early stages of building a new bike skills park in the green space in View Royal Park next to the new playground that is under construction.
The park would cater to youth looking to improve their skills on two wheels, rather than to the more experienced rider.
B次元官网网址淭he whole point is not to have a really highly skilled level for older teenagers, this is more for beginners,B次元官网网址� said Coun. John Rogers. B次元官网网址淥ur interest in this is really to use the bike park to teach or help young people learn and be confident in their bike skills.B次元官网网址�
The idea of a bike skills park came from former committee chair Jennifer Jakobsen. The long-time View Royal resident would often take her kids B次元官网网址� now eight and 11 B次元官网网址� camping at Goldstream Provincial Park, where they would use their bikes at the bike park there.
Jakobsen watched as her kidsB次元官网网址� bike skills improve and were taking more of an interest in the sport.
B次元官网网址淭hey developed all sorts of new skills and I also would get on my bike and we made all these games. It became super interactive B次元官网网址� Their interest in biking went up and we could do it together,B次元官网网址� said Jakobsen, adding they would go to the park when they werenB次元官网网址檛 camping to ride their bikes as well.
B次元官网网址淚 started to hear from other parents that they too were driving out to Goldstream, going into the campground to ride their bikes there.B次元官网网址�
Since pitching the idea to the committee last year, the project has moved along incrementally. The next step is to have preliminary designs drawn up and present those to the public for feedback in the coming months.
Rogers noted he also hopes to reach out to the school districtB次元官网网址檚 parent advisory committees to get feedback from youth as well.
B次元官网网址淚t being right next to the E&N Rail Trail, we really do see that itB次元官网网址檚 going to be a wonderful way for young people to cycle in with their parents and use the bike park,B次元官网网址� said Rogers, adding he hopes it will look similar to the one being pitched at Topaz Park in Victoria, which consists of an asphalt surface that would wind its way through the trees.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 about learning new skills and eventually growing up to be confident and aware.B次元官网网址�
Depending on the design and size of the park, Rogers estimates the project could cost between $100,000 to $150,000. The Town has allocated $60,000 within this yearB次元官网网址檚 budget to build the park.
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