BRO News: New Berkeley, CA Park Meeting...

Wednesday, December 4, 2002

New Berkeley, CA Park Meeting

New land is available in Eastshore State Park near the current Shady80 trails. BMX riders need to convince park directors to allow space for dirt trails. Meeting is Friday, Dec. 6.

From Stephen Swanson sswanson@eminentsoftware.com

BMXers,

Your attendance is needed Friday, please spread the word.

This Friday, December 6, 9:30AM, Berkeley Marina Radisson Hotel - Islands Ballroom, 200 Marina Blvd., Berkeley. Meeting of the California State Park and Recreation Commission about the Eastshore State Park (where Shady-80 currently is). TAKE OFF WORK. It is important we have a good crowd at this meeting. You will have to wait, and wait, and wait, but you will be able to speak. The meeting could potentially last until 1PM.

The essence of the matter is this: This meeting finalizes the plan for the Eastshore State Park, which BMXing isn't included in. BMXing isn't included because few BMXers attended the many meetings that were held, and State Parks do not usually include formal active recreation facilities. However, there is hope. The State has purchased an additional 16 acres of land for the Eastshore Park that is semi-unplanned (10 acres are sloted for playing fields) and is slated for active recreation. This is currently a huge parking lot in Berkeley south of the race track. This means we can advocate for an informal jump area AND a BMX track, if so desired.

Here are some points in favor of dirt BMX at the Eastshore State Park (unfortunately park BMX is just not possible in a state park):
*  Building a BMX facility is very low cost. No need for a totally level area, just some dirt and a little bit of infrastructure (water source, tool shed)
*  Dirt BMXing is almost definitely defined as a Hazardous Recreational Sport. California Government Code 831.7 refers to "bicycle racing or jumping, mountain bicycling..." as a Hazardous Recreational Sport. See http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/calaw.html for California code, enter "bicycle racing" into the search criteria. Dirt BMXing is pretty much jumping or racing. This means no liability for the operator.
*  BMXing is not mountain biking. BMXing is on a closed course.
*  BMXing is quiet
*  BMXing is environmentally benign. In fact, they take an extra material (dirt) and make use of it. No fertilizer, no constant watering like grass (although occasional watering is needed). BMXers often ride their bike to the site.
*  BMXers have been there since 1988
*  BMXers have no other place to go (nearest place was El Sobrante which was plowed).
*  BMX area could be landscaped with bushes, grass if desired
*  Would be great to have informal BMX area + BMX track

BMXers,

Your attendance is needed at the following two meeting. Please spread the word.

This Thursday, November 21, 7:30PM, Brennan's Restaurant, (4th & University). Strategy meeting to prepare for Dec. 6 and beyond. Update on progress (or lack thereof) so far. If you're going to go to the Dec. 6 meeting, I highly encourage you to come out Nov. 21.

Dec. 6 meeting: Friday, December 6, 9:30AM, Berkeley Marina Radisson Hotel - Islands Ballroom, 200 Marina Blvd., Berkeley. Meeting of the California State Park and Recreation Commission about the Eastshore State Park (where Shady-80 currently is). TAKE OFF WORK. It is important we have a good crowd at this meeting. You will have to wait, and wait, and wait, but you will be able to speak. The meeting could potentially last until 1PM.

The essence of the matter is this: This meeting finalizes the plan for the Eastshore State Park, which BMXing isn't included in. BMXing isn't included because few BMXers attended the many meetings that were held, and State Parks do not usually include formal active recreation facilities. However, there is hope. The State has purchased an additional 16 acres of land for the Eastshore Park that is semi-unplanned (10 acres are sloted for playing fields) and is slated for active recreation. This is currently a huge parking lot in Berkeley south of the race track. This means we can advocate for an informal jump area AND a BMX track, if so desired.

If you don't come Thursday but plan on coming Dec. 6th, give me a call at 649-9874 (after Thursday).

BTW - Berkeley Daily Planet ran a news article about BMX park options. http://www.berkeleydaily.org/article.cfm?issue=09-13-02&storyID=14546

From Stephen Swanson sswanson@eminentsoftware.com

Thanks to everyone who came to the 9-10 BMX meeting at Aquatic Park. Here is some of what came out of the meeting, besides what is already in the typed-up sheet I distributed:

Next meeting is Tuesday September 24, 7PM, Brennan's Restaurant, 4th & University.

Park would be open 6AM to 10PM (regular City of Berkeley park hours). No lights possible as this disturbs roosting birds.

The City is looking to users to build and maintain the park. We can get the kind of dirt we want (within reason), some help moving it around and shaping it with heavy equipment.

No guarantees - City approval isn't certain.

Needed for BMX area:
Porta-potty (frequently serviced)
water supply
garbage cans
tool shed
picnic tables/benches, place to sit in the shade
water fountain
A fence separating the road from the BMX area - could be a berm?
Something to mark the perimeter of the BMX area not adjacent to the road - benches?

Jeremy, Marty, Jake & Stefan are good point-of-contacts for City meetings. A "team of trustees" will have access to the tool shed, keep the park up.

Aaron, Stefan & John will work up a plan for the BMX park (asphalt, street?) area to bring to the next meeting.

Some Questions and Answers about a Possible BMX Park in Berkeley
Stephen Swanson, 649-9874

Q1.  Who called this meeting?
A1.  Myself (Stephen Swanson, Berkeley Partners for Parks, a non-profit park advocacy group) and Marty Wendt with Solono Ave. Cyclery.

Q2.  What's the Purpose of the Meeting?
A2.  To find out if BMXers like this space for a potential dirt and asphalt BMX park. To get names, emails, and phone numbers to organize future meetings.

Q3.  Describe the Site.
A3.  There are two distinct sites close to each other. One is a newly resurfaced asphalt parking lot, 235' x 25', no longer used by or accessible to cars, which would be for bolting down commercially sold ramps and obstacles on the asphalt. The City most likely would not allow user-created obstacles on asphalt. The other is a deteriorated parking lot 365'x30', which would be for a user-created dirt BMX area.

Q4.  Where's the dirt?
A4.  The dirt would be brought in and partially shaped with heavy equipment. The finish work and on-going maintenance would be done by users.

Q5.  How Long Would it Take?
A5.  The approval process to completion would take two years, as a guesstimate. This compares favorably to a project like Harrision, which took over five years.

Q6.  What About Shady 80?
A6.  Shady 80 is part of the future Eastshore State Park. The final plan does not include space for a BMX park. Shady 80 will almost certainly be bulldozed, but no one knows when.

Q7.  What About Harrison?
A7.  The City of Berkeley is set on keeping BMXers out of Harrision, because of perceived legal and safety issues. The City will staff Harrison, in part to keep BMXers out.

Q8.  What's the Process?
A8.  Here's a simplified idea of the process:
- User Group coalesces, comes up with a plan, what's needed (wanted) for both areas.
- Sign-off by City of Berkeley Legal - "Bicycling racing and jumping" is defined as a Hazardous Recreational Sport, so chances are excellent legal will sign-off.
- Meeting with Parks Director, Go over plan, issues.
- Come before Parks & Recreation Commission
- Come before Waterfront Commission
- Possibly come before Berkeley City Council.
- City orders equipment, installation of water source, etc.
- Volunteer contractors or City personnel bring in dirt and do some shaping.
- BMX users finish and maintain dirt area.
- BMX users bolt down ramps and obstacles in asphalt area. BMX users maintain asphalt area (sweep clean of debris).

Q9.  What are the City's Issues?
A9.  There are several. Many of these are quoted verbatim from the Parks Director. Many of these amount to 'ride in designated areas only, don't interfere with the wildlife or other park users.'
- Cost. Generally, Cities are hurting for money, and we won't see any new 3/4 million dollar Harrison-type parks for a long time. The City is willing to put out a small amount of money, and if things go well future money is likely. The asphalt area is most expensive and will have to be created in stages.
- The City will not proceed without sign-off from the legal dept. and approval by the Parks & Rec. Commission & Waterfront Commission.
- Dirt blowing onto the freeway or lagoon can not be allowed to happen.
- That the roosting migratory birds be undisturbed. Aquatic Park is home to many types of birds, some rare, year around and especially during migratory season October-April. Many birds roost in the trees immediately adjacent to the proposed BMX areas.
- Distance from the lagoon - need visual, physical buffer area.
- Preventing erosion, creation of muddy runoff that enters the lagoon during the rainy season.
- Prevention of compaction of soil over roots of trees.
- Limit of space so that expansion does not creep through the park.
- Control of graffiti, trash and other possible negative effects to the park.
- An interest group who can work with the city to make the space safe for the
bikers and the public - help develop mutually agreeable solutions to situations if and when they arise

Q10.  That's a lot of rules. Won't BMXers be Suffocated/Policed?
A10.  The issues above mostly amount to stay in the designated space and maintain it. The City is unlikely to staff this area and will depend on BMXers to resolve conflicts and keep the area safe for BMXers and all park users. The site is remote and conflicts with other park users should be minimal. Basically, the City wants a BMX group to self-run this area.

keywords: berkeley, ca, park

Back to news list