March 10, 2017 at 5:06 p.m.
Hodag BMX seeks to build on success of track
More upgrades planned for West Park facility
Hodag BMX seeks to build on success of track
Last Monday, Deede reported to the committee that the club is closing in on having accomplished everything on that list.
Since that list was presented to the committee, the track has been redesigned by designers approved by USA BMX which has made the facility viable for another 16 years.
"A lot of really good things have happened with that facility," Deede said. "One of the nice things that has happened is we are getting comments that this place is really starting to look nice. It's really come a long way."
Since the redesign, the track has become even safer to use by riders of all ages, he added.
"That is something that a track operator such as myself really like to hear," he said.
Moving forward, the club hopes to further improve on both the looks and functionality of the facility. The biggest item on the list is paving the turns, something Deede said the club will be able to accomplish this year.
"We are actually working with Musson Brothers to make sure this is going to happen," he said.
Paving the turns would help decrease the work volunteers have to perform to prepare for races while improving safety for the riders and preventing erosion.
"Until this point, we've never really had the funds to do that," Deede said. "We've been gradually saving since 2014 for these and we are hoping to actually do it this year. That's our main objective."
He also wants to improve spectator seating capacity. Coupled with paving the turns, those are the last two items on the 2015 development plan to be accomplished.
"I'm hoping that we can move forward with getting both of those done this year," Deede said, adding that the goal is to continue to use West Park as the club's home.
"It's been our home for 18 years now, and we don't want to change that," he said. "And the one thing we don't want are any surprises or expenses that we are not accounting for or can't afford. We're 100 percent donation- and volunteer-based and we're very careful to make sure we have the money fundraised before we go forward with anything."
He said the club is looking forward to formalizing the "gentleman's agreement" it has with the city that has allowed the track to grow and prosper. Committee chair Sherrie Belliveau said that working out such a contract is high on the list of things it wants to accomplish now that all softball and baseball users of city parks will soon be under signed contracts.
"What we have looked to have are five-year contracts, but we would be willing to go a little longer with you since you have some longevity there (at West Park)," Belliveau said. "I have said all along, there is no cost to the city for you being there, and as long as that remains the same, we would like for you to stay there."
Deede said the holes have been dug so fenceposts can be put in this year. He also said he has been working with public works director Tim Kingman to get the soggy ground built up to the point where there won't be the puddles the organizers have fought since they first laid out the course.
"That area has always been a little moist," he said. "And the moving of dirt did lead to some pooling of water in certain area."
He said the club has been using fill dirt provided by Kingman to try to get the water to flow where they want it to go, as well as repair some of the drains in the area. He said that the track will benefit from more fill dirt that will come from the streetscape project.
"So we will be able to get done what we need to get done," he said. "He (Kingman) said it's going to be a little tough to get to, but we'll take whatever we can get. Beggars can't be choosers."
Deede also said the club would like to add to and improve the lighting system for the track. Currently the club brings in temporary lights for events, but would like to work with WPS to replace some older lights and add some new ones to eliminate that need. Deede said they are hoping to be able to receive some grants from WPS to help cover the costs.
As for bleachers, Belliveau said the ones at Pioneer Park aren't owned by the city and are used by both the softball Little League and the Oneida County Fair. Parks, buildings and grounds director Jeremy Biolo said there may be some extra bleachers that could be brought over to West Park from Stafford Field.
Another project he said the club is fundraising is to replace the current concession stand/restroom building. The current structure doesn't have running water.
"We do have some funds that we could put forward and maybe we could do some matching fund grant writing to help us support that," Deede said.
Alderman Tom Gleason asked if the BMX Club would consider having the high school building trades class build such a structure. Deede said that has been discussed.
"Especially for the awning, which is kind of standard in BMX riding to provide shade for the riders in stages so they aren't sitting in the hot sun with their uniforms on," he replied.
He added the awning would be a fairly inexpensive and short build for the class.
Deede also broached the possibility of the current structures at West Park being repaired so they could be used again. Belliveau said she and Biolo had discussed that possibility.
Alderperson Dawn Rog noted that when the BMX track was first proposed, the organizers brought the parks committee detailed plans on what they wanted to build.
"It was fun to go back and look at that and see that it worked out," Rog said. "We don't often get those kind of architectural drawings from everyone - we should - but we don't. It is just awesome that it came through."
She said the original building in West Park used to see a lot of use, but as funds dried up for upkeep, it had to be closed due to its condition. It was supposed to be refurbished, but that never happened.
"I think it is important for the city to have the buildings, and not have other organizations have buildings in city parks," Rog said.
Belliveau said since Biolo became parks director after the first of the year, they have been discussing how to make that building at West usable again. Deede said maybe the club could partner with the city to upgrade the electrical system in the building and perform some of the basic upkeep in exchange for being able to use it. It was briefly discussed that a "drop-in restroom," like the one at Pelican Landing Boat Ramp, might be placed next to the existing building.
Rog said in the past, the city has worked with groups to match funds for park buildings such as the concession stand/bathroom building at Stafford Field.
"So that has been done before," she observed. "So that is something we could look at for borrowing next year."
"We need to start taking care of these before we start adding new buildings and facilities to the parks," Belliveau added. "But you (the club) have been a good neighbor."
"We're right on board with you," he said. "We would like to see things fixed."
Belliveau told the committee members if they had never been to a BMX race event, they don't know what they are missing.
"It's like a huge tailgate party. There are tents and bikes and cars everywhere," she said.
Alderman Alex Young said over the course of the 18 years it has been in existence, the BMX club has always had a strong group of people volunteering to make it a success.
"They have worked hard to keep that area maintained so it wouldn't be a problem for the city," Young said. "That isn't always the case with groups that utilize the parks. Often something gets built and then 10 years, 20 years later, nobody maintains it and it becomes the city's problem. That hasn't been the case with the BMX group."
Deede said since the BMX club has been around so long, a new generation of riders is growing up there.
"We have riders who have grown up and now have kids that are out there riding," he said.
Jamie Taylor may be reached at [email protected].
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