Little Red River Park is a popular spot for mountain bike enthusiasts, and has hosted the Pine Needle Mountain Bike Festival since 2010. (File photo/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Outdoor recreation

Mountain bike skills park proposed for Little Red

Aug 11, 2020 | 5:00 PM

Some big plans have been proposed for Little Red River Park.

Representatives from the Rock ‘n Road Cycling Club want to build a mountain bike skills park in the area north of Cosmo Lodge. Club member Darcy Rusk was at Monday’s Executive Committee meeting at coty council to discuss the plan.

“We probably have the best mountain bike area anywhere in Saskatchewan,” he said, citing the park’s quality trails.

The club is currently responsible for all the maintenance of the trails at Little Red, and has also done a lot of work promoting mountain biking in this area through the creation of some winter trails. And this proposed new project is expected to help create even more interest in the park.

“We would like to use materials that are natural materials that we would find on site to create a safe environment for mountain bikers to go and develop their skills,” Rusk said. “What we would like to create is very progressive so it doesn’t matter what your age is, what your mountain biking ability is, you’d be able to find features out there that you can use to progress yourself.”

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Examples of obstacles include various sized jumps, as well as the placement of logs or rocks to help with steering and balancing practice. Rusk said he would like to see a shelter structure, benches and garbage bins to help create a family atmosphere.

An aerial photograph of the site area. (Submitted photo/ Tim Yeaman)

The motion to support the initiative was moved by Ward eight councilor Ted Zurakowski, who expressed his personal excitement about the proposed project, and the possible extra traffic it may bring to the city in terms of tourism revenue.

“And I think it’s important that we support the initiatives of our volunteers so that they grow that activity,” he said.

Ward six councilor Blake Edwards inquired if there will be a cost to users. Rusk suggested there may be a fee down the line but explained when it opens, the skills park would be open for free to the public.

Ward two councilor Terra Lennox-Zepp asked about impact on other users of the park. Rusk replied it was the club’s intention to “integrate seamlessly.”

The motion was supported unanimously by executive committee and has now been forwarded to the city’s community services dept. for further review. Rusk told paNOW he would like to see construction start in the fall.

nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell