This is an exciting year with the upcoming fall elections at all levels of government. Hopefully you got out to your local caucus to make your voice heard. Often many of us feel that because we’re just one person, our voice doesn’t have much of an impact. But it does. I experienced this recently at a public hearing in Boulder.

The meeting was with the Parks and Recreation Board on how Boulder will develop land they purchased in 1995 called Valmont City Park. The land was acquired for the city’s Parks and Recreation Department to develop recreation facilities. An initial concept for the land was approved by the Boulder City Council in 1998 but was put on hold due to lack of funding. It wasn’t until 2006 that the plan resurfaced for discussion again.

Most recently, the Department came up with two multi-use options on the land and was hosting a public meeting to encourage comments from citizens on the proposed options.

Ideas for how to use the land range from building such things as a water park, tennis courts, a gymnasium,  and playing fields. The one suggestion that caught my attention, though, was an off-road cycling facility. And I wasn’t alone. A large majority of citizens came forward to speak in support of a bike park.

The idea for a bike park has been on the books since 1997, when a small group of people and business owners in the Boulder cycling community first proposed the idea during a public meeting. But, unfortunately, the plan was never implemented due to budgetary constraints.

Public process always takes time, budgets are always an issue and more often than not, there are competing interests for the same thing. That is the case with Valmont City Park. Along with those speaking in support of the bike park, others affiliated with sports such as tennis, Ultimate, disc golf and soccer also spoke.

With the great interest and help of many cyclists participating in the public process that night, though, the bike park idea is back on the table. Following the meeting, the Parks and Recreation Board voted unanimously to recommend that a 20-acre parcel on the north side of Valmont be dedicated to a bike park as part of the master development plan. The park will have a network trail system for mountain biking, cyclocross, BMX, and other off-road riding and racing.

But this doesn’t mean the bike park is a done deal. Next step is a City Council study session to discuss the plan along with the always-present challenge of funding. The public process keeps on going.

So how can you help move the plan forward? Even if you’re not a Boulder resident, contact City Council members (Council@bouldercolorado.gov) to express your support of the park. The more public officials hear from citizens around the region, the better. And the more cycling facilities we have in Colorado, the better. According to the Valmont Bike Park Committee, different types of bike parks have been built in Fort Collins, Eagle, Leadville, Colorado Springs, Winter Park and Gunnison.

Another way to get involved is to join the Boulder Mountainbike Alliance (www.boa-mtb.org) as they have formed a sub-committee to partner with the city in design, maintenance and stewardship of the park. Once the park is approved (keep your fingers crossed and the comments coming), volunteers will be needed for trail building.

Some of you might be thinking that if you don’t live  in or near Boulder, why bother commenting on the park? Well, if you’re a bike racer and the park is approved, you will have helped create a world-class venue for mountain bike and cyclocross races—where you can train and compete. The park also will offer up a great venue where kids can learn how to ride in a safe, car-free zone.

Help create a great hub for cycling culture in Colorado and make your voice heard.

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Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved.