Proposed Bike Park

New Update – Construction Will Begin Shortly!

Thanks to all those you have supported us the past few years, donated, and asked various questions. We are very excited that the official construction and build of the Bike Park will be commencing shortly!

You may have seen the fences going up, so we wanted to share with you the latest updates on the construction.

They are currently doing the early landscaping and prep, which is the removal of the shale, seating, fencing, etc. from the baseball diamond that was there previously. We are told that construction on the track will begin mid-July with completion two to three weeks after the start. As with all construction projects, things like weather, resourcing and unplanned surprises may possibly delay completion, but we are hoping for a smooth roll out.  

When construction is finished, the track will be fully paved and will be open for everyone to use. 

There will be temporary fencing up during construction until everything is done, and it is ready to use.  

If you have any questions, feel free to contact Rob Baillargeon, who is the director of the MLCA’s Sports and Recreation Committee. Rob can be reached via email at sportsrec@mardaloop.com. 

Now Accepting Donations!

The time has come to finish the fundraising to get this off (or built into) the ground! We’ve raised close to 70% of the funding required to build the bike track (which is awesome) and now we just need to raise a little bit more. To finish the job in 2022, we are looking for people in and around the community who are excited about the project to contribute!

We have various sponsorship recognition packages for people or businesses who would like to make a sizeable contribution:

Gold ($1,000+) – recognition signage at the park entrance

Silver ($500+) – recognition signage at the park entrance (smaller than gold)

Bronze ($250+) – recognition on the MLCA Bike Park website.

All donations are tax deductible! For any questions about the proposed park please email sportsrec@mardaloop.com. Thank you for your support!

*Please Note: Donation link will redirect you to the Parks Foundation website. Be sure to select the “Marda Loop Bike Park” project.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

The Marda Loop Communities Association (MLCA) in partnership with The City of Calgary, is proposing the development of a new bike skills park central to the communities of Marda Loop. The bike park will provide a recreational opportunity that includes a pump track to build and improve bike skills. The bike park is intended for people of all ages and abilities, from a toddler on a balance bike to intermediate teen and adult riders. Access to the bike park is intended to be for those who purchase a membership to the MLCA, which would also give such members access to the MLCA’s other services and amenities.

The proposed bike park will be funded and constructed by the community and maintained by volunteers of the MLCA. The bike park is currently planned to be paved to reduce dust and long-term maintenance costs. We are looking for your input on the impact on the community.

PARK DESIGN

Below is an example of a typical paved pump track.

PARK LOCATION

The location of the proposed bike skills park is west of the Fire Hall off 14 ST SW and south of 30th AVE SW as shown in the map below. This area currently has a ball diamond that is underutilized and will be converted into the bike park. The exact location of the park might shift slightly within the area, depending on the final design but it will be placed to maximize the enjoyment of the entire green space for all other activities.

PROPOSED TIMELINE

Summer 2020/2021 – Public engagement

Spring 2022 – Demolition of the existing ball diamonds (New Date is Summer of 2023)

Summer 2022  – Construction begins (New Date is Summer of 2023)

Late Summer 2022 – Construction complete (New Date is Summer of 2023)

APPROVAL PROCESS

In order to build the Bike Park, we will need 2/3 of the residents living within a sightline of the land to approve the project. As one such resident, we are seeking your feedback and to answer any questions you may have about the project. We are only just beginning our consultation process, so we encourage your feedback regarding our proposed use of this space in order to ensure that we build it to the satisfaction of the community. Please contact sportsrec@mardaloop.com telling the MLCA if you support, have any objections, questions or comments.

PROJECT FUNDING

The project is targeting 50% of the funding to come from provincial matching grants and the remainder to be funded through community individual and business fundraising, neighboring community associations, and the MLCA. The MLCA will support future ongoing maintenance and operation funding with most maintenance being completed by community volunteers. The total construction cost of the project is expected to be between $100,000 – $150,000 with annual expenses of less than $1,000.