Post by crazylacyssbmx1982 on Feb 9, 2009 18:36:25 GMT -5
A.V. may embark on new BMX park
What's next for local freestyle bicycle motocross?
January 12, 2009
APPLE VALLEY • For four years, William Furmage has fought for a place BMX bikers can practice their sport.
Tuesday night he’ll get another chance, as the Apple Valley Town Council reconsiders a request to either allow bikes in its current skatepark or to start the process of building a new one.
The deck is not stacked in his favor, however: The council has already denied his request twice and town staff members are recommending they do so again.
The problem with allowing bikes in the current Three Diamond Skatepark on Navajo Road, according to a town staff report, is that the California Joint Powers Insurance Authority has recommended against it without a serious retrofit. Initial inquires show these upgrades would cost more than $100,000 — roughly $23,000 more than it cost to build the skatepark in the first place, with donated materials and labor.
Furmage, who rode BMX for Vans in the 1980s, said he’s looked into the requirements and doesn’t agree any retrofitting is necessary.
“They say they’d have to put metal piping around everything,” Furmage said. “But I’ve told them that in the skatepark, the areas that bikes would be using already have metal on them.”
Since the insurance authority also recommends against allowing skateboarders and bikers in the park at the same time, Furmage has offered several proposals for alternating schedules, as is done at a skatepark in Jurupa.
But with alternating users, the CJPIA suggests hiring an attendant to enforce the schedule — which town staff members estimate would cost up to $27,000 a year — and calls for police to “aggressively enforce” the rules with increased monitoring of the park, according to the report.
“If the staff recommends to aggressively enforce their current rules and have police give out citations,” Furmage asked, “then why can't they just alternate the days and enforce that rule?”
Furmage said he feels he’s done as much as he can to find a compromise, reaching out to other cities, drawing up plans to expand the existing park and bringing in an expert from Skate Park Association of the U.S.A., who offered to help the town secure grants for the retrofits or a new facility.
His ideal scenario? At least one other Victor Valley city would build a new skatepark — larger and with more features than Three Diamond — and alternate days for skateboarders and BMXers at both.
The town’s staff is researching the possibility of building a new facility that would serve skaters, bikers or both. Early price estimates are coming in at up to $40 per square foot, plus the cost to purchase land.
The Town Council is scheduled to consider the issue at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in Town Hall at 14955 Dale Evans Parkway.
Thanks for taking the time to read my efforts for our sport.
The next post is even better.
William (CrAzY Lacy) Furmage
What's next for local freestyle bicycle motocross?
January 12, 2009
APPLE VALLEY • For four years, William Furmage has fought for a place BMX bikers can practice their sport.
Tuesday night he’ll get another chance, as the Apple Valley Town Council reconsiders a request to either allow bikes in its current skatepark or to start the process of building a new one.
The deck is not stacked in his favor, however: The council has already denied his request twice and town staff members are recommending they do so again.
The problem with allowing bikes in the current Three Diamond Skatepark on Navajo Road, according to a town staff report, is that the California Joint Powers Insurance Authority has recommended against it without a serious retrofit. Initial inquires show these upgrades would cost more than $100,000 — roughly $23,000 more than it cost to build the skatepark in the first place, with donated materials and labor.
Furmage, who rode BMX for Vans in the 1980s, said he’s looked into the requirements and doesn’t agree any retrofitting is necessary.
“They say they’d have to put metal piping around everything,” Furmage said. “But I’ve told them that in the skatepark, the areas that bikes would be using already have metal on them.”
Since the insurance authority also recommends against allowing skateboarders and bikers in the park at the same time, Furmage has offered several proposals for alternating schedules, as is done at a skatepark in Jurupa.
But with alternating users, the CJPIA suggests hiring an attendant to enforce the schedule — which town staff members estimate would cost up to $27,000 a year — and calls for police to “aggressively enforce” the rules with increased monitoring of the park, according to the report.
“If the staff recommends to aggressively enforce their current rules and have police give out citations,” Furmage asked, “then why can't they just alternate the days and enforce that rule?”
Furmage said he feels he’s done as much as he can to find a compromise, reaching out to other cities, drawing up plans to expand the existing park and bringing in an expert from Skate Park Association of the U.S.A., who offered to help the town secure grants for the retrofits or a new facility.
His ideal scenario? At least one other Victor Valley city would build a new skatepark — larger and with more features than Three Diamond — and alternate days for skateboarders and BMXers at both.
The town’s staff is researching the possibility of building a new facility that would serve skaters, bikers or both. Early price estimates are coming in at up to $40 per square foot, plus the cost to purchase land.
The Town Council is scheduled to consider the issue at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in Town Hall at 14955 Dale Evans Parkway.
Thanks for taking the time to read my efforts for our sport.
The next post is even better.
William (CrAzY Lacy) Furmage