Mountain Biking Within the City of Edmonton

Recommendations:
1.  That the relocation of the mountain biking pilot project to a site within Edmonton be approved.
2.  That discussions with cycling groups and other parties interested in the pilot mountain biking facility be continued.
3.  That program requirements and costing be developed for an enclosed dirt jump/ skills park, and return to Transportation and Public Works Committee with a budget proposal.

Report Summary

This report provides an update on the discussions held between Parkland Services, Strathcona County and interested user groups for development of a mountain biking facility in the Edmonton region. The report outlines the difficulties related to the original plan to pilot a facility at the Strathcona Science Provincial Park. Further research is recommended to locate an alternate site for the pilot project.

Previous Council/Committee Action

·  At the January 24, 2006, Transportation and Public Works Committee meeting, the January 3, 2006, Asset Management and Public Works Department report 2006PWP012 was postponed to the February 7, 2006, Transportation and Public Works Committee meeting.

·  At the June 13, 2005, Community Services Committee meeting, the following motion was passed:

  1. That Administration, in consultation with Strathcona County and interested groups, prepare a proposal to Alberta Community Development to pilot a mountain biking facility at the Strathcona Provincial Science Park for spring/summer 2006.
  2. That the proposal return to the Community Services Committee prior to submission to the Province outlining the pilot costs and a source of funding.
  3. That an evaluation report be submitted to Council at the end of the pilot study outlining the cost benefits of the pilot mountain biking facility, and feasibility of permanent facilities within the Edmonton region.

Report

·  Parkland Services has been involved in discussions with Strathcona County, the Strathcona Science Park administration, and representatives from the cycling community for development of a mountain biking facility. To date, these discussions have not yielded a formal agreement.

·  Strathcona County’s priority has been to secure approval for use of the Strathcona Science Provincial Park as a mountain biking venue during the Western Canada Games of 2007. Approvals are now in place for limited term use of Strathcona Science Park. There are no long-term approvals for mountain biking at this site.

·  It is Administration’s understanding that both the Province and the Strathcona Industrial Association have concerns for any enhanced and extended use of this Park. The Strathcona Science Park therefore appears an unlikely candidate for the pilot project. A site within Edmonton will be required to pilot the facility.

·  An informal survey conducted by Parkland Services among cycling enthusiasts at a Bike Expo held by United Cycle on November 26, 2005, showed unanimous support for a mountain biking facility in the Edmonton region. Interest was expressed for a facility in every quadrant of the city and among all age groups.

·  Discussions and research have also focused on the size and scale of facility that would be required to test the market for this sport within the Edmonton region. One option being explored is a facility based on a project operated by West Vancouver’s Gleneagles Adventure Park. This park accommodates dirt jumps, technical features and a skatebowl in an enclosed space. It was developed in 2004/05 at a total cost of $375,000. Photos of the park are included as Attachment 1.

·  Since the Strathcona Science Provincial Park option does not appear feasible, Parkland Services would require additional time to examine various Edmonton locations in order to find a suitable site for the pilot project. This includes discussions on how best to operate the facility.

·  At present, there is no external proponent for the facility. United Cycle has expressed preliminary interest to act as limited sponsor or partner in the venture, but discussions with both United Cycle and the Alberta Cycling Association have not been conclusive. This pilot project would require internal funding or more time to secure a sponsor.

·  Various ski hill operators in the Edmonton region have also expressed an interest in tapping the latent demand for cycling amenities. Rabbit Hill Snow Resort is currently constructing a downhill bike park and the Edmonton Ski Club has expressed interest in acting as the venue for the City’s pilot project. These signs point to the sport becoming a growing recreational activity within the City, and justify continued research for the pilot project.

Justification of Recommendations

  1. Since the original proposal to locate a facility at Strathcona Science Park appears unworkable, Administration requires extra time to explore options within Edmonton. The explicit goal is to address the recurring problem of unauthorized structures in the river valley. These unsupervised structures represent a considerable safety hazard for users and also contribute to the destruction of the city’s signature park space.
  2. In the past year, Park Rangers have received 25 complaints of unauthorized bike ramps/jumps constructed in the river valley. These structures represent an extraordinary amount of construction effort, which may be taken as a sign of this community’s dedication to their sport. It is not uncommon for bike parks to tap this grassroots enthusiasm and negotiate maintenance agreements with user groups, creating a sense of ownership and lowering repair costs. Administration will continue discussions with cycling groups to further explore this option and evaluate potential sponsorship opportunities.
  3. To date, Parkland Services has undertaken research on types of cycling and their associated standards and facility requirements. Administration has met with an expert to explore design options and undertaken a site tour of a dirt jump/skills park. In Administration’s view, an enclosed bike park represents a viable option for piloting the project within the city. Since this could, in principle, be located on the City’s tablelands, it might go some way toward alleviating the strain unauthorized structures created in the River Valley. Administration requires further study to develop a detailed design and ascertain final costs for this type of project.

Background Information Attached

  1. Photos of Gleneagles Adventure Park - West Vancouver.

Background Information Available on Request

United Cycle Survey results are available on-line: http://desktop.websurveyor.com/wswebtop.dll/WSPubReport?esid=55732&subaccountid=25100

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Mountain Biking Within the City of Edmonton

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