The future development of a new skatepark and mountain bike park now rests in the hands of Parks Canada.
The Jasper Skatepark Committee and the Jasper Park Cycling Association (JPCA), along with the municipality, made its case before Parks Canada’s Planning and Development Advisory Committee (PDAC), July 21.
Both groups want to build new parks in town.
In order to move forward, Parks Canada must approve discretionary use of each area before either group can begin building. Parks will also have to rezone part of the wooded area between the railroad tracks and Connaught Drive, near the western entrance of town, from natural open space to recreational open space to allow a bike park to be built.
If approved, the Jasper Skatepark Committee would like to replace the current skatepark with a permanent state-of-the-art concrete park. The cycling association would like to build a mountain bike skills park with trails and dirt features.
“There are always kids there,” said Darrell Savage, president of the Jasper Skatepark Committee.
“It’s a well used place and if we get it professionally designed, which is what we are planning on doing, I think people will be happy with it.”
Mark Fercho, the town’s chief administrative officer, said the municipality supports both locations.
“We did quite an extensive review of other potential locations,” said Fercho. “Specifically with this applicant, this site was absolutely the best choice given the type of use and the surrounding locations of the park and schools.”
When it came to the mountain bike skills park, the cycling association and the municipality looked at several locations, including elsewhere in the park, but decided the wooded area across from Maligne Lodge and Mount Robson Inn on Connaught Drive was the best location.
“Before we went to council we looked at all the other possibilities, including up on the bench, but this just seemed to hit all the metrics that we set out for the ideal spot, it’s close to town, it’s accessible and there’s parking,” said Matt Staneland, chair of the JPCA.
While some people may park along Connaught Drive, he said the intention is that people will park their vehicles in the RV parking lot beside Home Hardware and use the town trail to get to the bike park.
He also said a new mountain bike park will help mitigate illegal trail building.
“People are out building jumps and features because they’re not readily accessible in the park so if we can build features in a controlled area it will help curb illegal trail building,” explained Staneland.
Complicating matters, the proposed location for the bike park includes building in an area that is zoned for residential housing.
To get around the issue, the cycling association applied to develop a temporary bike park in this location with the condition that the permit can be terminated if the superintendent requires the land for residential development, as long as Parks gives one years notice. The temporary permit would have to be renewed every five years.
Fencing was another concern brought up by the committee, however both Staneland and Fercho balked at the idea.
“I’m not saying no, but I’m not sure large elk fencing would be appropriate for this location,” said Fercho.
Parks Canada is expected to make a decision on the applications within a month.
Paul Clarke
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