A Bike Skills Park is already included conceptually in the Glendale Master Trails Plan as adopted in 2008. We understand that pursuant to that trails master plan, potential Bike Skills Park locations have been scouted and a suitable site has been identified.
Bike Skills Parks provide a community resource that helps encourage healthy, sustainable physical exercise and activity. They often serve as a community showpiece, reflecting the community's commitment to healthy recreation. Bike Skills Parks encourage volunteerism, community participation and family involvement. They help bring communities together.
Bike Skills parks are now operating in cities around the country, such as New York, Seattle, Fresno, Kernville, Boulder and many more. Many new parks are in various stages of planning and development around the country as cities realize the numerous benefits they afford.
Bike Skills Parks provide kids, adults and families a resource which allows them to develop their bike-handling skills and become more proficient, confident riders. They will ultimately be more proficient riders both on trails and when riding on the road. Most of all, Bike Skills Parks entice our youth to get much-needed exercise and to learn an appreciation of our open spaces.
A Bike Skills Park would be an invaluable fitness training resource for both children and adults, as well as the local High School Mountain Bike league teams from Glendale, Burbank, La Canada and the San Gabriel Valley. It could provide a venue for special events, and would encourage local riders to spend more time in Glendale.
Bike Skills Parks have similar risk and liability profiles to Skate Parks, such as those already implemented in Glendale. Verdugo Skate Park is a proven success model in Glendale, but is not open to bicycles, relegating would-be park riders to the streets or to build their own features.
Presently there is evidence of unauthorized bike-park like features being built voluntarily by community members in open spaces surrounding Glendale. This is a clear indication of the need for such a facility and the fact that this need is not being addressed. Glendale could take a leadership position as the first Southern California City to address that need by building a Bike Skills Park.
Knowing all the aforementioned benefits, we ask that a Bike Skills Park concept be included in the 2011 revision of the Glendale Master Bicycle Plan. We respectfully ask and encourage the City of Glendale to move forward to bring the Glendale Bike Skills Park to a reality.
