A spectacular, $1.6M biking and BMX track unveiled in Kelmscott in time for the Easter break will be a “game changer for the state,” according to industry professionals.
The new facility, located in the south-east corner of John Dunne Memorial Park, was officially opened by City of Armadale Mayor Ruth Butterfield and Member for Armadale Tony Buti MLA, at a ceremony on Tuesday.
The state-of-the-art bike park, considered by some to be the best of its kind in WA, boasts pump tracks for beginner and advanced riders, jump tracks at beginner, intermediate, advanced and extreme levels, and a mountain bike skills trail around the park’s perimeter.
WestCycle’s chief operating officer and veteran cyclist Glenn Te Raki, who was at the opening ceremony, said the brand-new park was about more than just sport.
“This is about building the community, giving young and older people in the community a purpose,” Mr Te Raki said.
“It’s not centred around sport so much but more about community engagement, getting kids out away from their screens and into the outdoors.
“It’s a game-changer for the state, there’s very little of this level of quality in the area.
“Albany has their Youth Challenge Park which opened last year, but for the metro area this is one-of-a-kind, they have added the mountain bike skills course and it’s great to see investment like this in the local area,” he said.
The $1.6M park was funded through a $270,000 Community Sporting and Recreation Facilities Fund Grant from the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries, with the remainder of $1.3M funded by the City of Armadale.
Member for Armadale Tony Buti MLA said facilities like these encourage a healthier, happier lifestyle and a sense of community belonging.
“I am thrilled that local bike riders of all ages and abilities, as well as the wider Perth biking community, will be able to enjoy this new track for years to come,” Dr Buti said.
“Congratulations to the City of Armadale and everyone involved in getting this project off the ground.”
Getting the project off the ground has been some years in the making, with the park first appearing as a concept plan in 2018 before undergoing rigorous community engagement through surveys and in-house workshops.
City of Armadale Mayor Ruth Butterfield said the course offers something to riders of all abilities, from a toddler mountain bike playground through to advanced jump tracks.
“This impressive new community facility is an acknowledgement of the enormous popularity of bike sports and builds into the city’s vision to provide activated open spaces,” Mayor Butterfield said.
“We’ve had a lot of community interest in this project. Nearly 500 people participated in our workshops, open house, and surveys, and it’s terrific to see the community enthusiasm.”
