Chris Stedile
Castlegar News
Millennium Park Bike Park project update:
President of Castlegar Parks and Trails Society, Mark Jennings was accompanied by Eileen Senyk and Adam Pomeroy to give council an update on the bike park project. The bike park was first identified in the Millennium Park master plan and three acres of land have been set aside for the biking area. Jennings said, when fully completed, it will be one of the biggest mountain bike parks in the West Kootenays for sure.
A series of 3d images showed off various ramps, jumps and other terrain to be included in the bike park. The city is quite enthusiastic about the project.
Pomeroy, who is the construction design coordinator for the project said he is working out the details with the insurance for the building of the park and the city will then be responsible for insurance once the park is completed and in use.
The timeline presented to council stated that in an ideal environment the site would be prepared by the end of April and the design should also be completed by the end of May.
“That’s what we’re shooting for,” said Pomeroy. More updates are to be expected after these phases are completed.
The bike park is intended for all ages and skill levels.
Additionally, a great load should be taken off Jennings, as he was the one in charge of writing grants, but at the meeting councillor Sue Heaton-Sherstobitoff said she had found someone to do that for them now.
Pitch-in Week:
From April 20 - 26 — during Pitch-in Week Canada — a bin will be set up just outside the Community Complex. Here you can dump your own waste or that which you find around the city in an effort to further beautify Castlegar. Sign up at www.pitch-in.ca.
Climate change program grant application:
Council agreed to apply for $250,000 in grant funding for an initiative to integrate climate change into the city’s asset and infrastructure master planning process.
Director of Transportation and Civic Works Chris Barlow said, “This is an exciting program the city is looking at doing. It’s a large project and it’s a cutting edge project as far as looking at the impacts of climate change on asset management which are both near and dear to the city’s heart. Particularly for our city, we are going to look at storm water infrastructure.”
Barlow continued to say that once this project is completed it can be used as a pilot project for other municipalities and other initiatives within the city.
The city is requesting 100 per cent funding as a result of the programs projected uses.