Salt Spring Island Parks and Recreation Commission (PARC) has received a donation of $150,000 from the Salt Spring Island Lions Club towards the construction of a family bike park. The donation is made to the Salt Spring community in celebration of the club’s 60th anniversary. The Salt Spring Island Lions Club has a history of providing the community with quality recreational facilities and welcomes the opportunity to help create a much needed family oriented bike park.

Presently there are limited soft surfaced areas for youth learning to ride and cycle on Salt Spring. There are also limited active recreation opportunities for older youth, especially those not interested in team sports. A family style bike park would provide a location to gather all generations to participate in active recreation and promote safe cycling practices. Communities such as Tofino, Ucluelet, Cobble Hill, North Saanich and Sooke have bike parks designed for young cyclists and their families.

“This bike park will offer tremendous new opportunity for local youth and adults to enjoy our island’s parks, and cycle in a safe location,” states Wayne McIntyre, Salt Spring Island Electoral Area Director. “Through the development of new PARC programs, we can ensure that residents and visitors with different sporting interests have the opportunity to enhance their Salt Spring experience.”

A potential location has been identified in the treed area at the south east corner of Mouat Park at 160 Seaview Avenue. The 2011 Salt Spring Island Parks System Master Plan contemplates woodland biking and a bike park in Mouat Park. Following an environmental assessment and other feasibility studies the CRD and the Salt Spring Island Bike Club will be consulting with community members and surrounding neighbours to identify and resolve any potential concerns with the bike park project. A broader public meeting will be held in early March.

“While this project is in its preliminary stages, the generous donation from the Salt Spring Island Lions Club has allowed us to move forward with identifying a suitable location which we anticipate will lead to minimal environmental impact, in a location currently zoned for such use,” says Dan Ovington, Manager of Salt Spring Island Parks and Recreation, CRD.

About the Project

The Salt Spring Bike Club and the Salt Spring Island Lions Club have requested support from the Salt Spring Parks and Recreation Commission (PARC) and the broader community to envision, plan and build a family bike park on Salt Spring Island.

A family bike park is a dirt surfaced, outdoor recreation space with technical features professionally designed to facilitate and develop bicycle skills among children, youth and adults.

Presently there are little to no safe, soft surfaced areas for young kids learning to ride. Cycling on many of Salt Spring Island’s roads can be considered unsafe. There are limited active recreation opportunities for older youth, especially those not interested in team sports. A family style bike park would provide a location to gather all generations to participate in active recreation and promote safe cycling practices. Communities such as Tofino, Cobble Hill and Sooke have built family bike parks.

After consultation with staff and PARC a location has been identified in the treed area at the southeast corner of Mouat Park at 160 Seaview Avenue. The 2011 Salt Spring Island Parks System Master Plan contemplates woodland biking and a bike park in Mouat Park. The potential location behind the Artspring upper parking lot is currently unused for recreation activities. Following an environmental assessment and other feasibility studies the CRD and the Salt Spring Island Bike Club will be consulting with community members and surrounding neighbours to identify and resolve any potential concerns with the bike park project.

The Salt Spring Island Lions Club have donated $150,000 to build the bike park. The donation was made to the community in celebration of the club’s 60th anniversary which occurs in 2018.