City Council approves funding for BMX park study

Two community driven public meetings, two youth field trips, two work parties, passionate volunteers, and an intense staff effort may soon lead to a new Redmond dirt jump park for bicycles --  Bicycle Motocross (BMX)!   (photo - City Planner Carolyn Hope facilitates a clay modeling dirt jump workshop at Horace Mann; a councilmember, two consultants and parents attended.)  

Last Tuesday, the Council approved (6-1) a proposal to hire a consultant to move the community-driven dirt jumps forward.  Councilmember Richard Cole was the only NO vote. 

According to the city, "the contractor proposed for this project would begin immediately and participate in community meetings regarding site selection and design concepts. Once the design is permitted, the contractor will hold training sessions for the builders, who will primarily be volunteers from the community and some city staff. Construction is anticipated to be complete by early summer".  (photo shows BMX youth and parents after a day of forest restoration near the jumps.)

The contractor's fee is $61,000.  Some in the community are concerned about pouring more money into the parks, public works art, and other projects when the economy is so depressed and public safety funding has needs.  Fortunately, "new money" is not needed for the dirt jump project.

The City Council approved a budget of $179,652 for the Trail Development Plan for 2009 and 2010.
By the grace of God, the "Trail Development Plan" budgets are still unused leaving, $100,000 for design and construction of this project.  Presto we have the funds for the contractor!

The final hurdle Council faced was considering  two alternate options to the present city water utility property site.   The Administration recommends looking at two alternate site options in Hartman Park (away from the sports fields) in case the water utility property isn't secured.   The contractor will assess all three sites for critical areas, cost drainage, and size of the jump course.  Community meetings will soon be held to engage the Hartman Community Park users and neighborhoods.  Council will make the final site decision.    

Dirt Jump city website:  http://www.redmond.gov/insidecityhall/parksrec/parksplanning/DirtJumps/default.asp.

City link to document showing dirt bike site locations and  BMX youth repairing tree damage and jumps.  (scroll down for pictures) http://redmond.gov/insidecityhall/citycouncil/20091201pdfs/AM09264.pdf

photos and editing by Bob Yoder