BMX Tracks:

Responding to a Recreation Interest

by Paul V. Swanson

Paul V. Swanson is Superintendent of Recreation for Elk Grove Park District. He holds a Master degree from the University of Illinois in Recreation Administration and was employed by the Zion Park District prior to assuming his present position. Active in professional affairs, he currently serves as a member of the IAPD-IPRA Joint Editorial Board.

All new sport interests eventually arrive in the Midwest and so the newest wave has introduced the sport of Bicycle Moto Cross Racing to the youth of Illinois. A new light weight 20" bicycle appeared on the streets about two years ago complete with protective padding and number plates. Now they are a common sight, but there are few places to ride these BMX bikes. One place they can, however, is the Elk Grove Park District which has developed a Bicycle Moto Cross Track to give its youth a place to ride their bikes, develop their skills and compete in competitive racing.

The desire to have a track was initiated by the youth of the Village, and stimulated by a fourteen-year-old high school freshman. He circulated petitions among the Village's grade and junior high schools and collected over 400 signatures of riders seeking an official BMX track on which to ride. The petitions were presented to the Park Board with a simple written request. "Bicycle Moto Cross (BMX) is one of the fastest growing sports for the young today. We, the young citizens of Elk Grove Village would like very much to see a BMX track constructed in Elk Grove Village." The Park Board, impressed with his efforts and presentation, agreed to study the feasibility of developing a track.

Chief concerns dealt with insurance liability, an appropriate site location and construction costs. The Park District insurance carrier informed the District that the sport was so new that no loss record had been compiled, therefore there would be no premium increases for the District as a result of operating a BMX track.

Off to a racy Start! Photo Courtesy Elk Grove Chronicle

We were advised that the site needed to be generally supervised, i.e., in a location to be under the frequent observation of Park District employees, and that for competitive events, a fence should be erected to separate the spectators from the track. Accident insurance for the riders on race days is a blanket coverage policy good for the race day only and is available from several carriers at reasonable rates.

In seeking an appropriate site for the track a location was sought that would not be opposed by neighboring residents. Factors considered were dust, prevailing winds, parking, wash-rooms, availability of concessions and general appearance of the track.

Several locations were investigated before settling on a two-acre park site lying between an outdoor swim pool and a community center. The site offered buffer zones on all four sides between the track and neighboring homes, off-street parking at the community center, swim pool, high school and several church parking lots, and washroom and concession facilities at the community center and swim pool. The site could be observed by employees at the community center, the swim pool and by employees passing by the park area.

Development costs were estimated to be $2,000. The largest single expense was that of a bulldozer to form the banked curves of the track. Included in the cost were all supplies and labor provided by the District's Park's Division. Design aspects were handled by the District's Landscape Architect, an individual who had built several private BMX tracks and area residents who have been active in BMX. The result is a 720-foot course with four banked curves, a flat top jump and a washboard jump. Village youth, under the coordination of the owner of a local bicycle shop, donated many hours shaping and grooming the track after the rough work had been completed by the Maintenance Division.

Illinois Parks and Recreation 4 November/December 1980

Into the corner with all due haste. Suburban Trib Photo by Michael Sims

While looking for the appropriate site and developing construction cost, commissioners and staff personnel visited a neighboring private track to observe track usage on race and nonrace days, and were impressed by the order and efficiency by which the race organizers handled the several hundred youth who participated each week. A favorable impression gained from this experience, coupled with the location of an ideal site, a favorable response from the District's insurance carrier, the low construction cost and support from Village youth convinced the Park Board to approve the project.

The operation of the track is handled through a Park District staff member who works with a committee composed of parents of BMX youth. Committee members promote, organize and run all aspects of the competitive events. On race days the Park District provides a liaison person to oversee the general operation, collect monies and handle spectator problems; a nurse; and concession personnel. All individuals involved in the conduct of the races are drawn from the BMX Committee and interested parents. The relationship has combined the stability of Park District in insuring that all is prepared for the races, with the expertise and interest in youth provided by parents and BMX enthusiasts. All income from the race events come to the Park District to be returned as improvements during off season.

After a full season of operation the BMX track has proved itself an asset to our Park facilities. It provides a recreational riding activity and competitive events. There have been no serious injuries and no crowd control problems despite the 300 plus riders participating in the twice monthly events. It is inexpensive to operate and maintain and has returned its construction costs to the District in a single season. But most importantly, this BMX track has been a successful example of the Park District and its residents working cooperatively for the youth of our community.

The future of BMX racing is unknown. Expense of riding equipment, the tendency to develop professionalism in terms of racing equipment and the development of racing teams, and the mushrooming demand for tracks may create an overabundance of competitive facilities but discourage new riders from entering the sport. Some tracks are already overcoming these problems through cooperative scheduling of meets and development of novice and expert divisions of riders. Should the competitive aspect of the sport lose its popularity the track will maintain its recreational value or it could be converted into a passive park area.

Regardless of its future, BMX bicycling has proved to be an invigorating recreational activity and one in which park and recreation agencies can respond to the leisure interest of its residents.

Illinois Parks and Recreation 5 November/December 1980