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KERRY County Council is currently examining three possible sites for an urban bike park and pump track facility in the Tralee area.
A presentation was made by Anluan Dunne of Mountain Biking Kerry at the January meeting of Tralee Municipal District on Monday.
Mr Dunne outlined the health, tourism, economic and social benefits such a facility would offer the area if the proposal came to fruition and his presentation was met with widespread enthusiasm by all councillors.
“This proposal has the potential to transform Tralee. It is a tourist attraction, local amenity, provides youth engagement and can be easily scaled,” said Mr Dunne.
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“Today we are seeking a commitment from Kerry County Council to provide a location for the project and the identification of a funding stream. Tralee is the natural location for the facility due to its population size and its established position as the county’s gateway town for adventure sports,” he said.
Approximately one acre of land would be needed for the facility which would comprise of three different tracks — an asphalt pump track, a short circuit of gravel track specifically for mountain bikes and a “learn to pedal” area for younger less experienced riders.
An area within the Wetlands and an area in the Nun’s Wood in Killeen are two of the sites being looked at by the Council. An update will be provided to members at the March meeting of Tralee MD.
A funding stream to enable design and construction will need to be found and Mr Dunne said an approximate amount needed would be between €250,000 to €350,000.
Anluan Dunne has been working with the council and Kerry County Cllr. Norma Foley on the project for the past two years.
“The explosion in Irish mountain biking is recognised by government through their investment of €13.6 million in mountain bike trail development,” he said. “Unfortunately none of this investment is coming to County Kerry. This project will deliver an urban bike park at a fraction of the cost of a national trail centre.”
“The amenity will also be highly beneficial to the local community. Facilities like this are proven to engage local youth. The development of Wishaw Pump Track in Glasgow has shown significant reductions in youth crime, drug use and vandalism in the local area. Add to this the draw to the town from a tourism perspective, particularly families, physical and mental health benefits and the ability for the bike park to scale and you have a perfect recipe for success.”
“In Kerry we have a healthy mountain biking community. We have young people crying out for more to do with their idle time. This proposal will deliver on a tourism level, as a local amenity, as a community space and most importantly delivers all of this in an environmentally responsible, cost effective manner.”
It would be more important that Kerry County Council would fill the shocking potholes
and footpaths in the tralee town, they are a disgrace.
Out the back of the wetlands into the old dump ideal for bike park and room for expansion, eventually making the whole estuary a tourism feature.
People use your imagination it’s a natural amenity screaming out to be developed. Potential to tourism and the community is immense
Get community involvement for redevelopment of the whole area, in time out as far as the Spa.
The correct management with the right ethical standards from the outset will bring it in at reasonable cost.
If it’s left solely to commercial interests and méi feíners the overruns will be uncontrollable and doing a disservice to the whole community both in the short and long term.
The wetland seems to be a no brainer as it has a similar theme and environment due to the existence of a climbing wall, storage facilities to rent bikes if necessary and other essential facilities for human services. It may help with attracting another café leaseholder as there would be improved footfall helping the wetlands commercially and making it more self sufficient and less dependant on the public purse.
I feel the management of the centre falls short and I question why it is the taxpayer on the hook yet another underperforming quango with mediocre staff. If the wetlands was fully private as a business, this type of farce – the way it is current being run into the ground would not be possible as it would simply go bankrupt.
Still no skatepark either