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Residents, bike-shop owner press El Dorado commission to consider funding for BMX park
Summary
Public commenters, including a new bike-shop owner and community volunteers, urged the commission to support a proposed bicycle motocross (BMX) park and noted volunteer capacity and community benefits.
Aaron Cole, a new El Dorado bike-shop owner, told the City Commission he supports a proposed BMX/bike-park project and asked the commission and the excess sales-tax committee to consider funding. “I'm new to the town. I own the new new bike shop. Just saying that, that it was up for vote for some money to go to possibly a complex, and I just wanted to say that I'm here to support it and see if there's anything I can do to help this process move forward,” he said.
Cole described competitive successes and local participation: “Since I've opened up the shop, we've got 12 members on the team already… Some most of them local, but we picked up riders from Florida, Ohio, North Carolina.” He added the team and events draw families and visiting riders and argued a permanent facility would increase participation.
Another community member, Brandon, described the bike park as “one of the most phenomenal communities I've ever been a part of,” saying rides and events serve as informal therapy and keep youngsters off screens. Brandon and other speakers said volunteers maintain existing informal trails and run events that attract “hundreds” of attendees and distribute helmets and small prizes to local children.
Greg Mudd of the El Dorado Chamber of Commerce offered the chamber's help promoting future events and thanked the city for partnering on Civic Center use for chamber programs; his remarks were supportive but did not request direct funding.
Mayor and staff commenters directed the speakers to the excess sales-tax committee for consideration. Assistant City Manager Tabitha, identified during the meeting as chair of the excess sales-tax committee, was cited by a commissioner as the staff contact to ensure the committee hears the request. No formal vote or appropriation occurred; the commission moved the matter to the committee-review process.
