CHESTERMERE – Bike park enthusiasts Toby Giles and Brandon Johnson are about to have their final “kick at the can” over the proposed Full Mountain Bike Skill Park in the Rainbow Falls area. The two young men have been trying to gain approval from the Town and surrounding residents to have the land designated as a bike park that the entire family can use.
The park is a vacant 4.3 acre parcel of land on West Creek Drive between the Rainbow Creek Elementary School and Our Lady of Wisdom Catholic School. It will be a park where kids of any age can perfect their Mountain Bike skills with dirt jumps. The previous bike park was located in an area just behind the Safeway but had to be abandoned when the developer moved in to build townhouses.
The Town will make a decision January 21st if the land will be used for this purpose. Giles and Johnson have seen and heard some negative comments about the future park and would like to clear any misinformation that may be out there. A group of park supporters will be at all of the Winterfest activities Saturday, January 19th, handing out “Let Us Ride” pamphlets and speaking to people about the park. The pair are also considering a door to door campaign in the residential area to talk to residents in the immediate area and to address any negative feelings about the park.
Melcor Developments were very generous to allow the bike park to be at the original location and are now helping out with funding of the new facility. Carolyn Christison, President of the Chestermere Rotary Club, said the Rotary Club has taken on the Bike Park as one of its main projects and contributed a fair share of the funding to start the development.
If you would like to volunteer to help with their campaign call Toby Giles at 403-909-4455 or Brandon Johnson at 403-807-9406.
