Public Meeting to Support Big Sky Bike Park - July 17th, 6pm

JULY 18TH UPDATE: You can email or mail in your supportive comments here if you didn't make the meeting last night. 

Re: Big Sky Park, File Nos. 247-18-000105-CU and 247-18-000164-SP

Comments in support (or opposition) can be directed to me since I am the Planner assigned to this case. It would be helpful if the comments reference the file numbers and/or park name noted above. You can send comments via email, regular mail, or hand-deliver to our office. 

Thank you.

Cynthia Smidt | Associate Planner
Deschutes County
[email protected]

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July 14, 2018: If you're stoked about a full bike park in Bend with all the bells & whistles, you need to show up and voice your support at this public meeting and hearing by the County Planning Dept.

The first public hearing (for the needed Conditional Use Permit) was controlled by park neighbors who have a NIMBY (not in my backyard) position on the planned bike park. We need to pack the house with bike park supporters to showcase the other side of the issue and speak out on how great a bike park would be for our community. We'd love to see parents with kids, young adults, and anyone else jazzed about this to speak about what an incredible addition this would be for Bend.

PROJECT IN A NUTSHELL:
In collaboration with community partners, a new bike park for beginners to professional riders in the undeveloped areas to the west and north of the existing sports complex will offer family trails, cross country trails, cyclocross courses, a slopestyle terrain park, dirt jumps, pump tracks and kids bike play/learning areas.

Plans include a new entrance/exit that will serve as shared access for the park and Buckingham Elementary School, additional parking for 150-200 vehicles, and improved pedestrian circulation and safety.

Located at the corner of Hamby and Neff Roads at 21690 NE Neff Rd.
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A NOTE FROM BRPD:
"There’s an important opportunity coming up next week that may be of interest for your attendance and participation. Deschutes County is holding a public hearing about Big Sky Park and visitors are welcome to share input about the proposed project.

DATE/TIME: The hearing is at 6 pm on Tuesday, July 17, at the Deschutes Services Center located at 1300 NW Wall St in the Barnes and Sawyer Rooms, 1st floor.

As a reminder, the permit is asking the County to allow Bend Park and Recreation District to build the amenities that we have designed for this phase of the park development. Those include increased parking, entrance from Neff, lighting, athletic field expansion and the bike park. At an earlier meeting in June, several neighbors opposed the development plan, arguing that more amenities will lead to more traffic and congestion in the area.

If you’d like to share your viewpoint on the proposed project, you will need to sign up to speak. Testimony is limited to 3 minutes."

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PROJECT: Information, maps & schematics at Bend Park & Rec Department here.