HomeMy WebLinkAbout8.1 BMX Park Request CITY CLERK
File # [__ii
AGENDA STATEMENT
CITY COUNCIL MEETING DAT-E . July 20, 1999
SUBJECT: Request for BMX Park
Report by Diane Lowart, Parks & Community Services Director
ATTACHMENTS: None
.~ ..?~~. Const..,, d_,/r- ider recommendation of Parks and Community Services
REC_MMENDATIOO ~ t Commission to form a sub-committee or provide alternate direction.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT: Undetermined at this time
DESCRIPTION: At its meeting of April 19, 1999, the Parks and Community Services
Commission was approached by a group of youth who would like to build an area for riding BMX bikes
in Dublin. The youth explained that since there are no BMX riding areas in Dublin they have to be driven
to Livermore or San Ramon in order to race and jump. The youth had built some jumps in the vacant lot
behind the Civic Center, however this site is not an option as it is the site of the future Civic Center
Library.
At its May 17, 1999, meeting the Parks and C°~un/ty Services Commission received a report on other
BMX sites in the tri-valley area. At present, the only jurisdiction that has a sanctioned BMX site is the
Livermore Area Recreation and Park District (LARPD).
The LARPD BMX track is in an unused area of Robert' Livermo. r~ CQm_.m~_..~_~urfity Park. The % acre site
includes a 900-foot track that can accommodate up to eight racers at a time. The Park District worked
with local BMX riders to select the track design and cOoi'dinated with local developers to deliver 2,000
cubic yards of dirt fill to the site. District Slaff and volunteers jointly did construction of the
improvements. Using Park District equipment, Staff moved the dirt to the locations of the jumps and
berms and'volunteers raked the dirt, formed, and fin/shed the track and jumps.
The track is available for free use by the public during any daylight hours, except when there are
scheduled races, which occur approximately twice per month. Helmets _~an.d._o~.~?r.protective gear are
recommended. The track attracts approximately 30 riders after school and 60 riders on the weekends.
Organized races attract over 100 riders. The Livermore Police haye had, nQ_r~ported problems at the BMX
track. The District has received no complaints from neighbors about noise or other problems at the track.
Both the Cities of San Ramon and Pleasanton have also been.asked.by the youth in their co~tmjty to
build a BMX park. In San Ramon, riders currently frequent the undeveloped Precipice Park site on
BOllinger Canyon Road and San Ramon Valley Boulevard. There, the riders have created jumps of
varying size. Although the City is aware that BMX riders use me si~;e, the City does not officially
COPIES TO: BMX supporters/Parks & Community Services commission
ITEM NO. _~~
FScitycoun\ccmtgs\cc720bmx.doc
riders.
Th.e City of Pleasanton is investigating several Possible sites for a BMx parki 'If theY We Sii'C'~Ss~ul
securing a site, they anticipate that the site will be designed to have jumps but not a track. The City
Pleasanton does not tolerate unauthorized use of property by BMX iSd~i:S~ and~hen~ ai:eas ar~ f0~d, the
jumps are leveled.
Staff contacted the city's inSurance pool, the Associati°n of Bay Area GOV~ents, to
whether a BMX park would be covered under the plan. BecaUse a BMX park does n6t invol;V~'~'fiie isf
motorized vehicles, the risk elern~nt-~is'vi'e~ed a~ relatively 10wi ii"w~gg~s~d ~t .s~! .~.~ ag?
the site of the BMX park with the followingifif0~iifl'0~ni
· Hours of operation
· State that the park is unsupervised
· SpecifY safety eqUipment that shOUld be worn
· State the assumption Of risk' fact6i:
· Phone numbers of Police and Fire for emergency purposes
Approximately ½ to 1 acre of land is required for the type Of BMX
the~ City
future parks are developed, a BMX feature could be inclUded as'part of the park d~Sign~
one potential site identified by staff is the future staging area
The Parks and 'C°~¢sei:v~C~s commission i:ec6m~nds pursuing the develoPment ~f a B~ p~
and recommends the formation of a sub'committee. The role °fthe suld-committee would be'to Work with
staff recommends that the CitY CoUncil consider ihe ree0~enaaiion 0f Parks ~d c6 finlty
CommissiOn to form a sub-domittee or pr0vi~e sta~f~ilh aii~mate direcfl0r~i
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