The Marie Davidson BMX park could receive its first major upgrade in 30 years. (Spencer Sterritt/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Spencer Sterritt

gnarly

Future of significant improvements to Marie Davidson BMX park looks bright

Jun 12, 2021 | 6:32 AM

NANAIMO – The corners will hopefully soon be tighter at the Marie Davidson BMX park.

Nanaimo BMX wants to rebuild the park to bring it up to international standards, given the calibre of championship it hosts.

“Nanaimo has created world class riders for many years so this would allow for a track to hone their skills and win races,” Kier Graaten with Nanaimo BMX told NanaimoNewsNOW.

The complete rebuild would support and repave the many corners of the track and replace the starting gate.

Graaten said they haven’t renovated much of the track since it opened in 1989.

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“We moved the dirt around now and again just to change the obstacles and make it exciting for the kids, but the corners and start hills have been there since 1989.”

Renovating the park has been a discussion point with the City of Nanaimo since at least 2019.

On Monday, June 7 Nanaimo councillors voted in favour of adding the renovations as a discussion point in the upcoming budget talks for 2022.

Graaten said he’s optimistic about the talks and believes work will be approved.

“Nanaimo has a long history of biking. The longer kids spend on bikes they better they get, so we can provide facilities for them to keep upgrading their skills and continue to produce world class athletes.”

The Marie Davidson BMX park is beside the Stevie Smith Bike Park, which is considered a worldclass facility.

Graaten said both parks are busy on every day which isn’t raining.

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spencer@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @SpencerSterritt