Loutet to be given a new beginner line!
In March, the NSMBA applied for and received a Parks and Environment grant from the City of North Vancouver to start the process of formalising the Loutet Jump Park. Many cities across Metro Vancouver have sanctioned skills parks, including Burnaby, Port Moody, Surrey, the District of North Vancouver and the District of West Vancouver. This will be the City of North Vancouver’s first. The jumps at Loutet have been informally maintained over the years by the community, and is an obvious first choice for this project.
The NSMBA and CNV are looking for volunteers to help with Phase I this Friday and Saturday:
VOLUNTEER – Friday August 20, 3-8pm
VOLUNTEER – Saturday August 21, 9am-12pm
VOLUNTEER – Saturday August 21, 12:30-3pm
In Phase I, using the available grant funds and in-kind donations, a new beginner jump line will be created and the existing walking path upgraded and re-routed around the site. Specifically, the work will encompass the removal of a 12′ x 100′ (approx ) corridor of blackberry bushes and underlying organic material along the north end of the site. A beginner jump line will be created by Hoots Inc, and shaped by NSMBA volunteers.
The existing hiking path will be improved and brought to the west around the skills park. Additional invasive species removal and spot maintenance on the existing features would be accomplished by volunteer efforts, along with a general clean up of the site. In Phase I, no significant modifications would be made to the existing features.
Not the optimum entry for a pedestrian trail to enter…right in the middle of a gap! The trail will be rerouted to avoid the obvious dangers.
Phase I will demonstrate the positive synergies that occur when local government innovatively partners with community organizations to deliver a sustainable venue that encourages long-term benefits of health, fitness, and social opportunities for youth. Upon completion of Phase I, the NSMBA and the City will continue to work together to achieve our goal of creating a youth skills park with a variety of opportunities for all levels of riders to improve their skills.
As mountain biking moves into a new era in which government bodies recognize and embrace the benefits of the sport for all members of the community, recently completed bike parks in both Kelowna and North Saanich, amongst many others, are great examples of what can be accomplished!
The community is STOKED! Including Jerry Macpherson who has been tending the entry garden (in photo, behind) and trimming the bushes & weeds in the jump park. At 91, he welcomes the help!