Youth propose bike park in Atikokan
A bike park is being proposed in Atikokan.
A group of young people are seeking permission from the town to set it up in the Dunbar Heights area or near the White Street ballpark.
They presented their proposal to town council this past week.
Easton Zacharias says youth are prepared to make it happen.
“Our volunteer group is committed to helping maintain the park and taking some responsibility for it,” says Zacharias.
“We want this to be something that we take pride in and help care for.”
The group is proposing to start with a dirt-based track.
It would be designed for all skill levels, and include rollers, banked turns, berms, and optional features for more advanced riders.
Zacharias says the park would provide a safe place to ride.
“Youth in our community need safe places to be active and connected. A bike park would give us somewhere to go instead of being stuck indoors or on phones,” says Zacharias.
“But more than that, it would give youth a place that feels like it belongs to us. Somewhere we can be outside, be active, and just be kids.”
The youth are not seeking a lot of involvement from the town, other than access to dirt or gravel, garbage pickup and a town contact to help guide them.
David Green says there is community support for their project.
“We’ve also started collecting signatures, and the response has been very positive. We have over 300 signatures,” says Green.
Some members of council are also supportive.
Councillor Jim Johnson felt the youth’s presentation was professionally done.
“Anybody that wouldn’t back this should leave town,” remarked Johnson, which drew applause in the council chambers.
“I’m 100 % behind this. I will help you in any way that I possibly can.”
Councillor Brian Stimson is also supportive.
“People complain constantly about kids riding bikes on the streets,” says Stimson.
“We need things for kids. Either that, we’re not gonna have any parents coming to Atikokan.”
Council agreed to report back to the youth in about two weeks.
