New concessionaire will supervise riders
If all goes according to the county Public Works Department’s
plan, right about now the Veteran Memorial BMX bike park will be
crawling with patrons.
Yesterday, a month after closing its gates because there was no
fulltime supervision to monitor riders for helmets, the BMX bike
park finally re-opened with some new additions.
New concessionaire will supervise riders
If all goes according to the county Public Works Department’s plan, right about now the Veteran Memorial BMX bike park will be crawling with patrons.
Yesterday, a month after closing its gates because there was no fulltime supervision to monitor riders for helmets, the BMX bike park finally re-opened with some new additions.
The County Park and Recreation Commission has hired big Red Concessions, owned by locals Todd and Nicole Baker, to oversee the parcel of land during park hours and to sell snacks and drinks.
“We saw an opportunity to help the community,” said Todd Baker on Tuesday as workers feverishly prepped the land for its reopening. “I think it’s a shame to see that they dumped a lot of money into this place and had to close it.”
The Bakers are entrepreneurs. They hope that once riders see the gates open they will use the facility and buy Big Red products.
On Tuesday electrical wiring was being run into the 8×11 concession stand in the northwest corner of the track adjacent to the skatepark. Big Red will sell prepackaged foods, water and eventually will offer helmet rentals.
Also, the tennis courts in Veteran’s Park next to the skate park are being converted into basketball courts.
The Bakers plan to plant a row of trees and to lay sod around the outside of the course.
“I’m very happy it’s opening. The kids need something to do. Just so they wear helmets,” said Supervisor Rita Bowling, who also serves ion the County Park and Recreation Commission board. “There will be supervision at all times.”
In August, after pressure from the local biking community, the County opened the BMX park to harsh criticism.
Some felt the park was too rugged and would serve well as a motocross track instead of one for BMXers. Others thought the course needed more jumps and needed to be smoothed out to limit the risk of injury. A few even suggested the park should be totally redone.
Since closing in August there has been no changes made to the track.
Although the course is still bumpy and uneven and the lips of all the jumps are rounded, the county is hoping for more positive reviews from riders this time.
“We’re excited about it,” said Public Works Manager of Administrative Services Nadine Daroza. “It’s long overdue.”
The BMX park will be open from 3 p.m. to sunset from Wednesday through Friday and from 10 a.m on weekends. In the summer the park will open at 10 a.m. and close at sunset.
The park will be closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
