Lakeshore Advance, 2012-09-05, Page 11J
6 Lakeshore Advance • Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Councilor frustrated with BMX bike park delays
Lynda Hillman -Replay
Lakeshore Advance
During the last election
one of the questions asked
by a Forest youth was were
there ever going to be
construction in this
community for a BMX Park.
Since that time, councilor
Martin Underwood has
fought for the same thing
and is frustrated with the
delays.
Lambton Shores staff was
requested to report 00 the
feasibility and logistics of
the construction of a BMX
Park located in forest all the
municipally owned land
located adjacent to i 1 King
Street and the abandoned
CNR Right -of -Way. A BMX
facility is a bicycle motocross
course that provides
artificially developed earth
structures to be used by
bicycle riders,
Peggy Van Mierlo-West,
director of Community
Services says in 2008, the
world experienced BM X
racing in the Olympics. The
Media attention that
BMX drew throughout the
Olympics has now seen a
rise in demand for BMX
venues, as more youth are
drawn to BMX racing as
their new sport. BMX tracks
are also being used as
during & after school
sporting facilities, anti crime
strategies and family
recreational venues.
The new Recreational and
Leisure 111aster plan Strategic
Direction states the
Municipality should engage
in consultation with youth
(who are
traditionally primary
users) to gauge interest in
the provision of this BMX /
mountain bike park. This
endeavor should only be
undertaken if a suitable
partner can be secured for
assistance with items such
as fundraising, maintenance,
construction etc.'
'1'his direction was
considered a medium-term
goal (5- 10 years) with a
Capital Cost upwards of
$250,000.00 depending on
the design and size.
"The construction and
maintenance of a BMX Park
can he a very technical one
as to decrease the liability
and the amount of
Maintenance which can
occur if not built adequately.
There are no national
standards for constructing a
facility such as this one" Van
Mierlo-West explained to
council in a report.
Staff is estimating that the
basic BMX Park requires
approximately 5,000 cubic
Meters of soil. 'This soil will
have to include the
appropriate amount of fines,
granular and clay. Currently
the Community Services
Department does have this
amount however materials
411) The Municipality of Larribton Shores
LIVING IN LAMBTON SHORES... A ».euy spas. Ms Ae„rw[m s in your Community
Administration Department - 7883 Amtelecom Parkway, Forest, Ontario NON 1J0
Tel 1.877.786.2335, 519-788-2335, Fax: 519-786-2135, Email administratkmalambtonahorea ca
Visit our Web Site at www lambtonshores ca
Lambton Shores, recognizing that great
neighbours make for
safe & vibrant
communities and
improve the quality of
life for residents, has
implemented a
"Good Neighbour
Recognition Program".
The purpose of the program is to honour
outstanding Lambton Shores' citizens for
their efforts and actions that have enhanced
and improved our community. Nomination
forms are available from any of the municipal
offices
P1c111 10 ilt theta the
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REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
2011 Capital Replacement - GRAND BEND AREA WATER METER REPLACEMENT
The Municipality of Lambton Shores requires the services of a prequalified company for the above noted
project, which includes all things necessary for the installation of replacement residential water meters In
the Grand Bend Area. The work includes but is not limited to co-ordination of customer contacts,
appointment generation and management, Installation of the meter assembly, customer service and
electronic data tracking. The Municipality of Lambton Shores will supply the meter assembly for this
Project.
Information packages can be picked up at the Municipality of Lambton Shores Administration office at
7883 Amtelecorn Parkway, Forest, ON NON IJO
Information packages can also be picked up online at'.
httbdivAin iambtonshoree,caliivinuilocaluoveMMIEWca Ira ni4C15_talldereeNA IAL11
Proposals will be open In public on October 8th, 2011 at 11:00 a m. at the Administration office
Peggy Van Miedo-West, Director of Community Services 519-243-1400
Please check our website at
www.lambtonahores.ca for Public Skating thaws
or coil one of our Municipal offices.
testing will be required
prior to
placement, to e'llstll'e that
this material is appropriate
for this type of activity. 'the
cost of testing is
approximately $200.00.
Cost for removal of the dirt
and placement ranges from
$4000.00 to $6,000.00 based
on 5 days of construction of
staff time.
She said it should be
noted that at convenient
access to water is necessary
for jump construction and
maintenance. Water is
critical to the quality of the
park. Without water the
jumps become too hard to
work on and could increase
liability should a rider fall.
There is a water twain
located adjacent to the
property however a teeter
and tie-in would be
required. This cost is
approximately $3,500,00.
Van Mierlo-West said
during their research it was
discovered that numerous
hiking and insurance
associations have developed
project/liability framework
plans to assist Municipalities
and user groups to design,
construct and maintain
these types of parks. A
reoccurring theme within
our
research 011 this topic was
that the project should he
built with the users in mind
and that to make these
facilities successful the
users must he involved from
initiation. Various
Municipalities who have
currently or have undergone
this process also promoted
public Consultation.
Other reoccurring themes
within these plans include
the Mitigation of liability
and risk. 'These topics
include the development of
a risk management plan,
installation of effective
signage, and
implementation of it
maintenance and inspection
policy. A methodically
written Risk Management
Plan is the best way to
ensure safety measures are
developed and
implemented. At ti
minimum, the plan should
include the steps to take in
an emergency, an overview
of signs, and delineation of
boundaries, a description of
the inspection and
maintenance plitil, and
information regarding
insurance. An effective
Management Plan will also
assist in mitigating liability
dile to:
negligent design,
negligent maintenance,
negligent supervision or
failure to warn the public of
dangerous conditions. This
activity would occur
in-house.
Staff would recommend
that signage be reviewed by
both legal and insurance
representation to ensure
proper wording. Once
wording has been approved
by council stuff would
contract a sign maker to
complete these works. Cost
of the signage approximately
$1,200.00, legal and
insurance fees for review
are not incorporated within
this amount.
"Like all Municipally
owned facilities this area
%viII also require monthly
inspection by a trained
person. A written log should
he kept to ensure jumps and
surrounding area are being
looked after regularly and
Mal 11 tell ance 1S/ 11( 1s
documented. This step is
imperative to reducing
liability. This program
would be developed
in-house with assistance
from Provincial and
National Recreational
Groups publishing's.
It should he noted
however that it is important
to develop a stewardship
ethic among riders that
encourages everyone to
repair and groom the jumps
regularly and keep the park
clean.
Staff asked for direction
from council regarding this
project, development of the
work plan, liability plan and
the public consultation/
riser group engagement
process and timeframes for
collllllellcettlent.
From council
Councilor Underwood
said it is Important they
move ahead, "It won't cost
too much. We have a basic
plan- let's start doing it. "
Ile said he spoke with
Optimist Club who sent a
letter of support stating
they, "Believe it (the BMX
Park) will be beneficial.
"Ilow refreshing it is that
council is doing something
for our youth," said the
letter. Underwood agreed
saying, "Lets do something
positive. Lets move ahead"
Councilor Ruth Inman
said this is an important
project and thinks it is one
of Forest's priorities. She
reminded Underwood they
(Councilor wards) would
come back with "a laundry
list of what we want. " She
said it us hard to commit
dollars for this year. "We
know the kids want it and it
is a priority. What are we
going to do for each of our
places that will fight for
what we want?" she asked
adding, "We have a budget
process we have to go
through." Councilor l,otie
Scott disagreed with waiting
for the '2012 budget, "It
seems to mu' we have money
somewhere." Councilor
john Russell asked if they
hada plan.
"We are close to end of
year and did not do our
budget till way late," said
Lilt un. " We still have things
to pay for in this year's
budget -we do get surprises
some good some had. 1 %viii
support this whorl %ve have
a plan."
"It's a few piles Of dirt,"
said 1lnderwood, "Let the
kids get on with it ;and then
rebuild it -should not take ;t
lot of money."
Deputy mayor Elizabeth
Davis-Dagg asked if the
Optimist Club would help
with fundraising? "Wiley
said it %vas refreshing we
would be doing something,"
a frustrated Underwood
said reading from the sante
Tetter, "Lets lead for ;t
change." Mayor Bill Webei
was quick to jump back
stating this municipality has
done so much and taken
the lead again and again.
oilman said there is also
the liability and risk
management, " Maybe they
can start with that," she
suggested. Councilor Dot'
Bonesteel said they shout. _
give the staff some tinge to
deal with these issues anti
move on. Inman agreed
saying they could begin
now with the development
of the work plan, liability
plan and the public
consultation/user group
engagement process and
timeframes for
commencement.
!Underwood said he does
not want to wait six months
to a year- he has people
ready now. 1 le suggested
they were trying to bury it.
Council agreed to have
staff work on the issues in
their report with
Underwood as their liaison,