City Planner Carolyn Hope wins committee vote to apply for a bike jump construction grant.

Upated, 9/18 -  Good news!  Chairman Myers Parks and Human Resources Committee and Parks staff have made serious progress towards the construction and design of Redmond's new BMX Jumps.

During last Tuesday's meeting at Perrigo Park, Senior Park Planner Carolyn Hope announced the exciting news that potential grant money had been found to cover the cost of construction and some design work.   She asked the Committee for approval to apply to "Bikes Belong". for the grant application.  Committee members Vache', Myers, and Carson were present and voted, "yes".   Councilmember Richard Cole's presence had given the Committee quorum so they voted to give Ms. Hope direction to apply.

During a previous BMX meeting held at Horace Mann, Mr. Cole was concerned about liability and that expensive Lloyds of London insurance could be required.   Parks Director Larsen reassured everyone  that the State of Washington's Recreation Immunity Act covers the city's liability.  Case closed!  Council voted to approve Ms. Hope's grant application! 

Ms. Hope said completion of the new Bike Jumps needed support beyond the grant.  Local bike shops and hopefully R.E.I. will donate resources.   R.E.I. may offer grant money, but they require an application from an employee.  Any R.E.I. workers out there?   

Below is an important link to all the hard and thoughtful work Carolyn Hope put into this project.  As you can see, Ms. Hope's portfolio is comprehensive &  thorough and will impress "Bikes Belong".   Planner Theresa Kluver and all the BMX'ers, their parents, and many citizen volunteers all worked together to make this grant application possible.  

PLEASE CLICK HERE to find links to all the cool jump pictures and BMX projects listed below! 

Excellent photgraphs (taken during citizen BMXer field trips) of creative jumps and jump course designs!
Field Trip 1 - Snoqualmie Bike Park, Snoqualmie, WA  
Field Trip 2 - Colonnade, Seattle, WA
Field Trip 2 - Towers of Power, Renton, WA
Work Party - July 31, 2009      (Pictures of volunteer BMX'ers filling holes around trees and building safer jumps; they used over 10 yards of soil!)

Carolyn Hope's City Bike Jump web site:   http://www.redmond.gov/insidecityhall/parksrec/parksPlanning/DirtJumps/Documents.asp

by Bob Yoder
city website photo
Special thanks to Councilmember Hank Margeson for explaining how the Committee voting process works.