The ongoing efforts to get a bike park built in Marin has been in the works for several years now, and it looks like the final road blocks have finally cleared. According to an email blast from IMBA, the Stafford Lake Bike Park, approved several years ago by the Marin County Board of Supervisors, will begin construction this spring, thanks in part to the Friends of Stafford Lake Bike Park. It is also a finalist for a Bell Bike Grant, with voting beginning today.
As is with all news regarding Marin Bike Parks, it was met with skepticism from the bike community. Like everyone, our hopes have been dashed many times over in the past, so we reached out to seemingly tireless advocate of the park, Al Baumann to hear first hand what the status was.
Here was his response:
Hey Jason. Good to hear from you. First look at the article, but I knew it was coming. Our fundraising really picked up when Friends of Stafford Lake Bike Park was formed and became a 501c3. We’ve taken a lot of responsibly off Park’s shoulders. If all the paper work comes in soon on the industry $ pledged, the Sups will approve the Phase I and bids will go out. Most of the permits are done.
“Friends of Stafford Lake Bike Park” has been formed to facilitate fundraising for Stafford Lake Bike Park. Between Friends and Marin County Parks there is now about $500,000 in or pledged to the construction fund from the County, industry, many individuals, and private funds. Most of the permitting is done which has to include Ca. Fish and Game, Army Corps of Engineers, Ca. Water Quality, CEQA….. It’s always more complicated than you anticipate. But, we only need about $100,000 to go to bid and start to dig this summer, hopefully riding Phase 1 by fall.
Obviously this is rather exciting news. If all goes according to plan—don’t get your hopes to high on this timeline, as these things so often are delayed and rarely happen as planned— the park will begin construction in a few short weeks, with the goal to be completed in 2015. Phase one of construction is slated to being in fall of 2014.
Learn more about the Stafford Lake Bike Park Project here.
Vote now at Bell Helmets