Albany Bike Park 
UPDATE – Tuesday, 11/10/2009
Members of the Albany Bike Park Taskforce met with the City Council last night (11/9/09) in support of amending the existing park ordinance to allow bikes in the Albany Skate Park. The ordinance amendment passed unanimously. Effective immediately bikes are allowed in the Albany Skate Park. New signage is on order.
Council members asked that riders maintain their efforts with the skaters to keep the peace between the two user groups. Council members also encouraged the riders to continue efforts to build a separate park or expand on the existing skate park.
The next task force meeting will be in December and will focus on design. The group will take a look at designs they’ve created so far as well as at an option of expanding the existing skate park with an added skate/bike plaza of some description in the lot next to the park.
The task force plans to hold cleanup sessions with Park Maintenance to remove existing graffiti and help maintain the park in the future. The Parks and Recreation Department, along with the Albany Police Department, will work with the task force members to develop safe methods of monitoring the park for illegal and dangerous activities.
A big thank you to all the task force members that have showed up at past meetings and have stuck with this project. Having legal access to the existing park will go a long way in building goodwill between the user groups. It’s hoped that by providing access to riders they will have a sense of ownership, respect and responsibility towards the park.
For more information please contact Tari Hayes, Administrative Assistant, Albany Parks and Recreation at 541-917-7778 or tari.hayes@cityofalbany.net.
Summer’s Over – Update 10/22/2009
The summer is over and the taskforce is gearing up. The next important step is getting bikes allowed in the existing skate park. In order for that to happen, the existing ordinance needs to be updated and approved by Council. Taskforce members will need to present their case, along with Albany Parks and Recreation and Albany Police Department at an upcoming Council meeting. (see below for more information).
Ordinance to Allow Bikes in the Existing Skate Park – Update 10/22/2009
A request to amend the existing skate park ordinance to allow bicycles in the skate park will be presented to City Council on Monday, November 9, 2009. The taskforce, with the support from the Parks and Recreation Commission, Albany Police Department, and Parks and Recreation staff, will be presenting their case at the City Council meeting. Attendance from supporters at the meeting will be crucial and a reminder will be sent to all Task Force members in advance of the meeting. City staff is working on a report for Council and will meet with the taskforce to finalize it prior to the Council meeting.
Fundraising – Update 10/22/2009
City staff will start work on a fundraising plan this fall. They will continue to look for grant, gifts, sponsorships and donation opportunities. Please send any ideas or suggestions to Tari Hayes at tari.hayes@cityofalbany.net or call her at 541-917-7778.
Next Full Taskforce meeting – Updated 10/22/2009
A meeting specifically on the bike park ordinance will be held before November 9, 2009.
The next taskforce meeting will be scheduled shortly after the Council meeting. Items on the agenda include:
- Update on Council action
- Local fundraising opportunities
- Review design and construction ideas
- Next steps
To Volunteer:
To volunteer or to find more information on the task force please contact Tari Hayes, Administrative Assistant, Albany Parks and Recreation at 541-917-7778 or tari.hayes@cityofalbany.net.
Project History:
On March 5, 2008 over 60 BMX riders, parents, teachers and local businesses attended the Parks & Recreation Commission meeting and asked for a bike park. The Commission decided to create a task force to explore the creation of a park.
On April 8, 2008 a forum was held to identify the needs and related issues of those with a stake in the building of a bike park, including skaters, BMX bikers, donors, public safety officials, parents, neighbors, and event organizers; to develop strategies and actions to address those needs and issues; and to determine the next steps in appointing a bike park task force. From that meeting 6 focus groups were created and initial areas of focus were decided:
- Location – possibilities, impacts, costs (city owned, private)
- Design/Construction – materials, costs, design
- Volunteer Coordination – maintain contact lists, seek out community resources, coordinate support
- Recorder/Admin – provide minutes, agendas, thank you notes, phone lists
- Treasurer/Fundraising/Sponsorships – donations, tracking expenditures, fundraising, seeking out in-kind donations
- Community Relations – Provide public information, rules, establish a web presence, marketing the park
Many more volunteers are needed. To volunteer , or to find out more information on the task force or a specific focus group, please contact Tari Hayes, Administrative Assistant, Albany Parks and Recreation at 541-917-7778 or by email.
What is BMX?
BMX (an acronym for Bicycle Motocross) is a form of cycling on specially designed bicycles which usually have 18 to 24-inch wheels (the norm being the 20-inch wheel). Freestyle BMX is a creative way of using bicycles originally designed for bicycle motocross racing. It can be split into several disciplines, although riders will generally participate in more than one discipline. These are Street, Park, Vert, Trails (sometimes called Dirt) and Flatland.
Why BMX?
BMX Park and The Community
A BMX Park will enhance a community both economically and socially. BMX riding provides a safe and challenging sport for kids of all ages, male and female alike, benefiting the community by keeping youth involved in a positive, healthy environment that promotes family bonding and safe competition. Developing a vacant lot into a BMX park for the kids and their families increases the value of our community and adds new economic and community benefits, such as:
- Good for local businesses. Currently they are only a handful of parks in the state that allow BMX riders. The group has received interest from across the state and up and down the I-5 corridor, showing that riders are willing to come to Albany to ride, and in turn stimulate the local economy.
- BMX riding is a family sport offering a great way for kids and parents to enjoy a sporting event together.
- Encourages participation – riders don’t have to "sit-on-the-bench” or wait long for their turn to compete.
- Enhances city appeal and increases tourist activity. Major events can attract up to 1,000 participants and spectators.
This site is under construction, please check back often for updates.
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