The unauthorized bike trails tirelessly constructed by local youth in Centennial Park received a formal thumbs-up from local leaders on Oct. 27.
Environmental, safety and liability concerns the District of 100 Mile House had were officially addressed at a regular council meeting, with young local mountain bikers and parents in council chambers for the meeting.
The fate of the bike park, hidden in the woods behind Centennial Park, had been up in the air since it was discovered on District property in the spring.
Clayton Chamberlain addressed council on behalf of the bikers.
“It has been a very safe, successful and productive year on our part,” Chamberlain said.
“The community and rider and parent support has been overwhelming. The knowledge gained and the materials donated … and dedication to maintaining these perfect jumps is truly incredible.”
The altered landscape is a remarkable site, like the awesome remains of an extreme newly discovered civilization. Steep lanes of earth descend like a radical roadway through the conifers, coursing into huge rolling banks of dirt and ramps built of plywood and moss-covered logs. The boys manoeuvre with impressive dexterity at impressive heights with no fear.
A sign nailed to a tree reads: “RESPECT THE JUMPS, DO NOT WALK ON THEM.” Another sign from the District of 100 Mile House reads: “USE AT YOUR OWN RISK.”
Countless hours of labour went into the park’s construction and $1,000 was raised privately to purchase insurance for the year.
Mayor Mitch Campsall congratulated and thanked Chamberlain and the youth in attendance, before reminding them any extra work or alterations to the park need to be cleared with council first.
“It is a positive [thing] they’ve done,” Campsall said. “And the work they’ve done is pretty impressive, that’s for sure.”
As for helping the youth with funding the park in the future, the mayor said “no” at this point in time.
“If it’s something we’d get into, it would be something we’d have to get into with the Cariboo Regional District.”
Hun City Mountain Bike Club member Steve Law has acted as a sort of intermediary between council and the bike park members. He was instrumental in getting the new bike park properly insured – under the Hun City Mountain Bike Club – which was a long and difficult task because rules on bike park certification aren’t really clear cut, unless they’re built by a certified builder, he explained.
“It seems if you have that you generally don’t have a problem. But ours was built by some kids essentially. That was part of the problem. Even though it’s very similar to what you see in bike parks, it wasn’t built by a recognized builder.”
With the new development in Centennial Park, the Hun City Mountain Bike Club is no longer insuring the preexisting bike park near Peter Skene Ogden Secondary School. The club doesn’t have the manpower or funds to maintain or regularly rebuild the park to keep riders interested, Law explained.
He’d like to see the new, formally unauthorized park become the central location for bike enthusiasts in town. It’s a more desirable location and the terrain is conducive to “doing some really cool stuff.”
“They put a hell of a lot of work into it and it’s awesome. Now, I’d like to see it evolve into much more. It will be up to the kids. I’m perfectly willing to help communicate regularly with the District.
“We need stuff like this for the community. I’m really happy with these guys.”
Cindy Parent, a mother of one of the boys who frequents the park, also addressed council.
“I am absolutely amazed at the dedication and hard work that these young men have done. My son has spent many hours up there doing something constructive, something positive.”
A controlled burn of debris recently cleared at the park is scheduled for Nov. 5 with 100 Mile House Fire-Rescue personnel attending along with members of the bike park.
