bmx track proposal – city of cornwallmail.cornwall.ca/active/development/egenda.nsf... · bmx...

November 2015 Prepared by: Daniel G. Drouin, A.Sc.T.

Cornwall BMX Club President

CORNWALL BMX CLUB BMX Racing Track Proposal

CORNWALL BMX CLUB – CITY OF CORNWALL BMX RACING TRACK PROPOSAL: 2015

OBJECTIVE Our goal is to reach as many young people as possible and provide them with a healthy and positive “alternative” activity that will allow for individual and family growth through the sport of BMX racing in the City of Cornwall. PROPOSAL We wish to propose the construction of a sanctioned BMX racing track in the City of Cornwall. Our community is an ideal setting for a BMX track because of the high number of families with children under the age of 19. It would also be the only track within a 100 km radius. With this strong demographic being embedded in the community, and the possibility of attracting additional members from the nearby communities of Long Sault, Ingleside, Martintown, and Morrisburg, we believe that a BMX track will be highly successful with kids of all ages. The track would exist as a non-fee use facility open to all public users during daylight hours, with the exception of organized and sanctioned Cornwall BMX Club events. Organized events would occur twice weekly, which is typical for most BMX tracks across North America. They would include one (1) race event and one (1) practice. There would also be some larger events which would occur over certain weekends (Friday-Sunday) such as Provincial Qualifiers, and possible National Series Races which would attract families and riders from all across Ontario, Quebec and the United States thus increasing revenues for local businesses. BACKGROUND The sport of bicycle motocross (BMX) racing was created in the 1970’s by children who wanted to imitate their motocross idols. Today, this sport provides people of all ages with a fun and positive activity which promotes good health, competition and sportsmanship. BMX, by its very nature, is an individual sport that can involve the entire family. There is no other organized sport in which each and every family member; boys, girls, mothers, fathers, can compete at the same event. It is truly a family activity as demonstrated by the Kingston BMX Association and the Nepean BMX Association who currently have members ranging in age from under 2 to over 68 years old. Riders compete by age and by proficiency; this allows participants to race others who are of similar age and skill level. The growth of the sport has been phenomenal since BMX racing became an official Olympic event in 2008. It was showcased at the 2015 Pan Am Games in Toronto, where Canada’s Tory Nyhaug won the gold and will be featured at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Brazil. The sport is non-polluting, builds health, coordination, and character. It can be as competitive or non-competitive as the individual wants to make it. It is an individual (as opposed to team) sport that offers many lessons which can be applied directly to adult life in our competitive society.

BMX Racing in the early 1970’s.


The tracks in Ontario are sanctioned by the American Bicycle Association / BMX Canada which is the world's largest BMX sanctioning body with over 350 tracks and over 70,000 active members in the U.S. and Canada. The Sanction provides complete $5 million liability coverage 24 hours a day, 365 days a year for the track operator, landowner, and any required additionally insured entity. The Ottawa BMX Association has been successfully operating a BMX track at the Trillium Park on Ogilvie Road for

over 7 years, and Nepean has been operating for three years and has seen its membership grow to over two hundred members. There are currently eleven BMX tracks across Ontario located in: Kingston, Ottawa, Nepean, Gananoque, Milton, Port Elgin, Chattam, Stouffville, London, Niagara Falls, and the new Pan Am Track in Toronto. These tracks are providing BMX racers with exceptional opportunities to learn and compete. There are also several other communities throughout the province that are considering the construction of a track, including: North Bay, Orleans, and Belleville. LOCATION In order to create a proper BMX track, we would require land size of approximately 150 feet by 300 feet (this value excludes parking areas). We conducted an informal search and have identified a few potential sites, however we would certainly consider other sites the City may suggest.

Option 1 – Guindon Park – Trillium Drive Boat Launch/Rest Area This is our preferred option since it would offer the unique opportunity of being the only track in Ontario located by a scenic waterfront. The location is easily accessible by car or bicycle, and is close to amenities. See Appendix A. Option 2 – Guindon Park – Floral Drive Picnic Area Between Floral and Trillium Drive. See Appendix B. Option 3 – Benson Centre – Adjacent Vacant Lot. See Appendix C.

Option 4 – Lamoureux Park – East of the RCAF

Option 5 – Optimist Park

Modern BMX racing, Pro Class.

Modern BMX racing, Strider Class.


COSTS As with any sports facility, there are always upfront costs. The following is a list of items and the estimated one-time costs required to create a track which is both safe and race ready. The Cornwall BMX Club will make every effort to reduce these costs where possible by working with local businesses, suppliers, attracting sponsors, hosting fundraising events and purchasing used products.

DIRT: $6,000 (potential to receive dirt at no charge) ASPHALT: $5,000 SITE PREPARATION: $2,000 STARTING GATE: $2,000 STARTING GATE CONTROL: $700 STARTING LIGHTS: $200 PNEUMATIC RELEASE MECHANISM: $800 ANNOUNCING SYSTEM: $500 AIR COMPRESSOR: $300 LAPTOP and PRINTER: $400 ELECTRICITY ON-SITE: $1,000 WATER ON-SITE: $1,000 TOOLS: $1,000 FENCING AROUND TRACK: $5,000 SECURITY LIGHTING: $300 USED METAL STORAGE CONTAINER: $3,000

SAMPLE BMX TRACKS

Sample BMX Track #1 (Example) Sample BMX Track #2 (Example)

Peter Brierley Memorial Track, Kingston, ON Track 2000, Milton, ON


NEXT STEPS:

1. Council of the City of Cornwall to identify and approve an appropriate site to construct a BMX track.

2. Notification of City’s approvals to the BMX CANADA (BMX sanctioning body) With the City’s approvals in place, we would seek approval from the ABA/BMX Canada to join their association.

3. Funding In order to begin track construction and be successful in attracting riders for the 2016 season, the Cornwall BMX Club will seek one-time financial support from available grants (Municipal and/Provincial), local businesses and sponsors for the expenses noted above. Once the track is operating with a compliment of members, the annual membership fees and fundraising events will provide sufficient funding to maintain the track. The club will not require any on-going funding from the City of Cornwall for future years.

4. Marketing The Cornwall BMX Club will attract new members through various methods:

I. Host open house events at local Community Centres; II. Post flyers in local shops;

III. Post event notices on free local websites; and IV. Local media

5. Create an Executive Committee

6. Construction of the track (Spring 2016)

THANK YOU.

Daniel G. Drouin, A.Sc.T.

Cornwall BMX Club President [email protected] www.cornwallbmx.ca www.facebook.com/CBMXClub


APPENDIX A Potential Track Locations:

GUINDON PARK – Trillium Drive Boat Launch/Rest Area:

Gatineau BMX Track


APPENDIX B Potential Track Locations:

GUINDON PARK – Floral Drive Picnic Area: Nepean BMX Track


APPENDIX C Potential Track Locations:

BENSON CENTRE – Adjacent Vacant Lot:

Kingston BMX Track

bmx track proposal – city of cornwallmail.cornwall.ca/active/development/egenda.nsf... · bmx...

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