Will our community "Realize" Redmond's Bike Park?

Kids are modeling clay to create bike jump ideas for the park. Bike jump
professionals gave talks. The kids also traveled to neighboring BMX parks for ideas.

Carolyn Hope facilitates bike park
design workshop at Horace Mann
President Richard Cole attended

OPINION:  In this week's City Council meeting at least six or seven parents addressed council in the "public comment period about the "Redmond Bike Park" (RBP) development project. RBP is a BMX/mountain bike jump park project on Education Hill.  It's been delayed by an appeal.

One citizen was adamantly against the park, calling it useful for only a small minority of the city population.  His back-yard faces the park.  Another was not against the park but bothered by the Notice process.  He lives a short walk on Ashford Trail in a nearby housing development.  All the other speakers were fathers of BMX biker youth vested in developing the park from years of volunteerism and seeing the good the sport brings to their children.  They spoke with passion and eloquence.  Dave Randall, was the first speaker.  Dave's comments are recorded in a Letter to RNB here. 

But, my reason for writing is to ask where is "Realize Redmond'' (RR) when the community and city needs their support the most?  "Realize Redmond" is a nonprofit, public-private partnership funded by City Council (6-1, Cole) with $50,000 in taxpayer seed money.  Realize Redmond used to be called the "Redmond Foundation". The mission and vision hasn't changed.  READ MORE >>



New Logo

The "Realize Redmond"  mission is to "inspire the Redmond community to come together, honor the past, harness present potential and realize a chosen future."  Their vision is "to build a healthy, vibrant and engaged community...through projects...that improve quality of life, encourage civic engagement..."  "Diversity" is a Core Value:  "We will represent the diversity of our community to ensure  we are supporting the entire community."  RBP brings diversity to Redmond's biking culture and heritage.  "Collaboration" is  RR Core Value:  "We will provide opportunities to meet, communicate, collaborate, and partner with others, bringing together residents, interest groups....".  "Delivering measurable results..." is another Core Value.

Redmond Bike Park meets all RR criteria. It's the perfect candidate.  "Realize Redmond" recognized the park's values with a small fund-raiser last year.  Jeni Craswell, Executive Director of RR, organized the event. Councilmember Pat Vache', an ardent supporter attended.  RR paid for a BMX movie, popcorn and prizes to make the teen center event fun.  Much lauded and admired City Project Manager, Carolyn Hope, ran the event.  Ms. Hope has spent countless hours, days, months working with community youth to engage them in the park's concept, design and implementation.  The kids are going to build the park.  So, again, where is RR? 

And, where is the show of community support from RR?  RR has over 12 sponsors who together   generously donated over $200,000 to the RR cause and they deserve recognition. Why doesn't RR make their voice be heard?  Current sponsors are Evergreen, Waste Management, Falco Sult, thinkspace (donates office space and business services) , Ben Franklin Crafts, Bullseye Creative (designs nonprofit city websites), Marriott, PSE, LWYSA, Wave Aquatics and Stacie McClure, CPA. 

Will RR and their Board members join the community and address council at public comment?  Could RR spend some of their money on posters and banners so RR sponsors are recognized for their support of the park?  Derby Days, RTC, LWYSA soccer fields, and the Saturday Market are all good locations.  Or, does RR intend to spend all of their money and PR on the Downtown Park? 

The mission of Realize Redmond is to inspire the community to come together, honor the past, harness present potential and realize a chosen future.  Why aren't we hearing from them?  Why aren't they delivering measurable results of support for the Redmond Bike Park?  

Opinion By Bob Yoder
Photos By Yoder
Updated, 6/9

Postscript:   "To review the permit documents, decisions, the SEPA checklist and the engineering plans, please go to the project website - http://www.redmond.gov/cms/One.aspx?portalId=169&pageId=1593 . There are no scheduled meetings or hearings for this project at this time. If there is an appeal, there will be a public hearing. I will be sure to update you again at the end of the appeal period."  By Carolyn Hope, cjhope@redmond.gov, 6/9