For years, the bicycle-skills-park debate has been raging. Finally, the debate has been put to rest. As we reported last week, the committee of the whole recommended the no-cost option of exploring their options with SEAPARC.
The wording of the recommendation that was passed read as follows:
“THAT THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE recommend Council give direction to staff to work with the Sooke Bike Club, SEAPARC and the Sooke Community Association to refurbish the existing bike skills area and expand the existing facility into Throup Road Park to accommodate all bike skill levels;
“AND TO bring back a report to Council on the bike skills park funding for approval prior to entering into an agreement or the commencement of works. “
Linda Finch, acting as the manager of SEAPARC, had the following response. “The bike park will be discussed at the next SEAPARC Commission meeting on October 2. SEAPARC staff look forward to working with the District of Sooke, the Sooke Bike Club and the Sooke Community Association on the future development of the bike park.”
The Sooke Bike Club is also going to work with it,” stated an email from Christina Schlattner. “The Sooke Bike Club is prepared to make the best of a poor decision.
“We intend to honour our commitment to the young people of our region by working to provide a bike park commensurate with their skill level, and to all others who would like to have a place to develop their trail riding skills progressively. This is going to require a good deal of cooperation between SEAPARC, the Sooke Bike Club and the Sooke Community Association.
“As for the JPMP, the master plan and conceptual plan remain unchanged. A bike slalom run, suitable for events is an identified component of the park.”
The Sooke News Mirror was unable to solicit a response from The Sooke Community Association before publication.
As Twitter user Abigail Road summarily tweets, “Now that a decision has been made about the bike park the people of Sooke can go back to worrying about smart metres & dog poop at the Spit.”