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John English, a member of Lantzville’s Parks and Recreation Commission, surveys an underused park that could soon become the site of a proposed mountain bike park where entry-level riders can practise riding skills. If approved, work on the site could start in early November.
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BY TAMARA CUNNINGHAM THE NEWS BULLETIN
A new Lantzville park could give beginner mountain bikers a place to test their skills. The District of Lantzville has put out a request for proposals to turn a community green space into its first mountain bike skills park. The idea is to build a 2,000-squaremetre skills circuit with a pump track, jump lines, log rails and a free riding area, to ramp up use of Rotary Park in upper Lantzville, and give beginner bikers a place to test their skills so they can make use of community trail systems. There’s nothing like this in the greater Nanaimo area, according to
BY TAMARA CUNNINGHAM THE NEWS BULLETIN
it’s what people are looking for,” she said. Jenn McGarrigle, spokeswoman for Nanaimo Mountain Bike Club, called the idea great. Skills parks are a starting off point for new riders of all ages and a fun place for the more experienced ones, she said. “It’s a good area to go to practise some basic mountain biking skills so that you’ll have more fun once you hit the single track,” she said, adding the club believes multiple skills parks in the community are important to further the sport. “Skills parks like this definitely encourage new riders and attract them to the sport.” The request for proposals closes Oct. 12. The budget for the circuit is $39,000. The Rotary Park playground is also expected to be replaced as part of changes to the area. news@nanaimobulletin.com
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Proposed park upgrades target bikes John English, a member of Lantzville’s parks and recreation commission, who says while most parks and tracks are set up for those who know how to ride, this will cater to beginners and be family-friendly. The equipment won’t be high off the ground, so kids will have a chance to learn and be challenged without being endangered, he said, pointing to places like Hinton, Alta., and Tofino as already having these kinds of skills parks. “It fills a gap for our park and it fills a gap for our younger population,” he said. Denise Haime, chairwoman of the parks and recreation commission, said the proposed skill circuit is about the community veering away from the traditional and capturing the interest of residents. The park is underutilized and this would be a way to entice people to come out, she said. “It’s fresh and it’s new and I think
Chamber of commerce leads petition to fix council relationships Nanaimo city council is broken and the only ones who can fix it are the politicians themselves, according to Kim Smythe, chief executive officer of the Greater Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce, which has helped launch a new petition. A citizens group headed by the chamber has recently started a petition on Change.org, calling for mayor and council to acknowledge that problems exist and to find solutions. Smythe said it’s meant to get council’s attention, but it will also provide a forum for citizens to indicate the level of dissatisfaction among the public. “It’s been 10 months since swearing in and we’ve watched relationships break down, discord grow, decorum reach new lows in chambers and councillors attacking each other online,” he said in a press release, later telling the News Bulletin that in 23 years of working with politicians and watching councils he’s never seen a situation like today. He believes it’s costing the city in money, reputation, pride of place and self-esteem and that there’s been an inability to get things done, including the core review. Mayor Bill McKay hired a facilitator in June to help address internal issues on council he said were affecting the ability to do business. The facilitator continues to work with politicians and is costing taxpayers upwards of $50,000. Smythe, however, said in nine months he has noticed councillors being no more civil to each other and if anything, acting less so. “We have to call for better or we won’t get better,” Smythe said. “We elected you to be responsible as community leaders. We’d like to see proof of that responsibility soon.” The petition was sitting at 65 supporters by press time Wednesday but quickly gaining signatures. To view the petition, please visit https:// goo.gl/CvmYGO.
CHRIS BUSH THE NEWS BULLETIN
LANTZVILLE RELEASED request for proposals to improve Rotary Park.
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VOL. 27, NO. 40