Dozens of people turned out for a public forum to share their ideas about Jasper鈥檚 mountain bike skills park and to hear first-hand from the man who will eventually build it, Nov. 23.
Hosted by the Jasper Park Cycling Association (JPCA), the forum was an opportunity to discuss the future of the bike park and talk about the different types of features people would like to see in the park.
鈥淭he key to tonight was to get a better understanding about what the bike park really means and to show and demonstrate that we鈥檙e here and ready to get this thing done,鈥� said Jay Hoots, owner of Hoots Inc., which will build the park.
According to Matt Staneland, chair of the JPCA, a conceptual design plan for the bike park will be completed by mid-December.
鈥淚t鈥檚 one thing to show people a picture of trees, but if you can show them a concept map and say this is what it鈥檚 going to look like, I think that鈥檚 when people really start to buy in and get a lot more excited,鈥� said Staneland, following the forum.
According to Hoots, it will cost at least $150,000 to get the project started. To date the JPCA has raised $17,000.
鈥淓levation is the biggest thing,鈥� said Hoots. 鈥淧laces that have elevation are usually at the lower end of costs and places that are flat, where we need to bring in material, its $100,000 right there.鈥�
Earlier in the day he visited the plot of land set aside for the bike park in the west of town and said he was optimistic about its potential and said the area has a moderate grade.
鈥淚 love how close the site is to town and I think it will work really well with the current trail system,鈥� said Hoots, adding he wants to incorporate as many trees into the design as he can.
He also emphasized that the bike park is a community project.
鈥淚t鈥檚 all about ownership and it鈥檚 all about community,鈥� said Hoots.
Staneland echoed his comments.
鈥淭his is a public park. We want everybody to come out and feel comfortable here and make it a beautiful park.鈥�
During the presentation Staneland told the audience the final design will also include an interpretive element to protect a patch of endangered calypso orchids.
鈥淧reservation and development don鈥檛 have to be mutually exclusive,鈥� said Staneland.
Following the presentation, people were asked to fill out a comment sheet and choose from a list of features they鈥檇 like to see included in the conceptual design plan.
For 16-year-old Sam Howe, that was easy.
鈥淚鈥檇 like to see an advanced jump line, like they have in Canmore,鈥� said Howe.
If all goes according to plan and JPCA can raise enough money, construction will begin in the spring.
To date, Hoots Inc. has built 53 bike parks across Canada, including the bike park in Hinton and Edson. His company was also involved in building the new downhill track in Valemount, which opened a few months ago.
Paul Clarke
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