8- The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday July 1, 2006 Town puts brakes on pilot BMX proposal By Angela Blackburn OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF The Town of Oakville has put the brakes on a proposal to put a pilot BMX area near the garden plots in Shell Park. The proposal, which was in its early stages, involved putting a BMX area as a pilot project in the same park as Oakville's only skateboard park. Co-locating such parks is recommended in the Town's new Parks, Recreation, Culture and Library Master Plan. However, the proposal was nipped in the bud earlier this week when residents of nearby Victoria Street, including an avid bird watcher, aired their concerns with Ward 1 Councillor Ralph Robinson and Town's parks staff. At least one resident of Victoria Street, which backs onto Shell Park, said he was incensed the Town was considering putting the pilot BMX area in the park when the park's skateboard area has caused enough trouble. Noise, graffiti, and litter were just a few of his beefs about the skateboard park. However those weren't the residents' only beefs. There were concerns about lack of supervision, policing, facilities, emergency access and, most importantly, the potential destruction of the environment of a woodland. Shell Park and the wooded corridor is on a major migratory path and has a high use by people who enjoy nature. The area is used for walking and bird watching, is ripe with all types of plant and animal life and is near where people operate garden plots -- sometimes working on their gardens and then spending quiet time enjoying them. Resident Geoff Harrison, who has lived on the southwest Oakville street for nearly a dozen years, was upset when he received notice of a public information meeting about the proposed BMX park to be held next Wednesday at the park. It was to be held at the location of the proposed BMX park -- between the garden plots and the southeast soccer field. However, that meeting has now been cancelled. And while Robinson was instrumental in putting the brakes on the meeting and proposal, he said he wished BARRIE ERSKINE/ OAKVILLE BEAVER CITING A BAD SITE: Geoff Harrison was unhappy to hear about a proposal for a pilot BMX park in Shell Park. Harrison is seen here at the proposed site, where some clearing was done. After residents complained, an upcoming public information meeting was cancelled. "Staff learned a lot more information Robinson. residents had more faith -- and he's not A letter was being hand delivered to giving up on finding a BMX park for local and we want to digest it and seek more information," said Robinson. residents to notify them of the cancellayouths. "It's my position that it should be can- tion of next week's information meeting. "People need to understand we're According to the June 22 letter from going through a process. Nothing has celled permanently because I've got been approved and nothing is being enough information now that it's the Oakville's director of parks and open space jammed down their throats. I'm just a lit- wrong place to put it," said the councillor, Chris Mark, BMX is defined as bicycle tle bit disappointed that they don't have noting he'd be very surprised to see that motocross that involves riding (pedal power) a bicycle that is designed for rough more confidence in their elected people," particular location pursued further. Robinson said the site of Petro Canada terrain on a dirt track. said Robinson. The BMX park would be a seasonal Upon hearing the residents' com- Park (formerly Optimist Park) that's locatplaints, Robinson met with some of them, ed down the hill to the west of Bronte facility that would entail constructing visited the site and then worked to put a Road just north of Rebecca Street might multiple mounds of soil in various heights be a potential location. and curvatures to provide a dirt bike ridhalt to the plan. "For six years now we've been looking ing opportunity for youths. Robinson said based on what he The park would not be designed for learned from the neighbours it would be for a suitable BMX park for the young "completely inappropriate to consider any kids. The kids are asking for it and really what's called free-riding, which is on further" on the proposal for that particu- need it. We've found several locations over paved surfaces similar to skateboarding. lar site. the years but they all get rejected," said See Shell page 10 IMMEDIATE INSTALLATION AVAILABLE & Make Your Home Comfort More Affordable CENTRAL AIR & FURNACE AND $ LENNOX SALE ® $ Up to 1000 Instant Rebate NO PAYMENT! NO INTEREST! 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