Calls to provide Ocean Grove youth with a purpose-built bike park have gathered momentum.
In July, City of Greater Geelong removed two makeshift jumps from the bike track at Woodlands Reserve in Ocean Grove, citing “safety reasons”.
The jumps, which had been built by park users, were removed in response to community safety concerns, council said.
However, Federal MP Libby Coker has backed Ocean Grove families calling for a purpose-built bike park.
Ms Coker met with local parents and children to discuss the need for the park and said the construction of a park in Ocean Grove would be a big win for the community.
“I acknowledge the project is still in its early days of development, but it’s great to see the passion from the local young people and their parents to get it off the ground,” the Corangamite MP said.
“It’s important the kids have a safe environment to ride their bikes in. We want to see our children outside enjoying the great outdoors – especially in the time of COVID.
“There is still a lot of work to be done, but I’m very supportive of the project.”
Ocean Grove Bike Park Committee chair Ryan Dodson said there was a real demand for the park to be built.
“The kids are building illegitimate bike tracks everywhere – that illustrates the need for it,” Mr Dodson said.
Mr Dodson urged council to sign onto the project, noting the positive impact it would have on local children’s physical and mental wellbeing.
“It’s great the kids have this initiative and they’re trying to put something together, but we need a proper park that has been designed and engineered by the council,” he said.
“As a parent we want to encourage our children to be outside and not glued to computer games or their iPad.”
Ms Coker said she was in discussions with the City of Greater Geelong to organise a meeting to begin discussions for a bike park for Ocean Grove.
