San Rafael, CA – An all-ages bike park, the first of its kind in the North Bay, received construction approval from the Marin County Supervisors on April 29, and plans are being made for a groundbreaking ceremony in late May.
In another sponsorship offer facilitated by the newly organized nonprofit called Friends of Stafford Lake Bike Park, Fox Factory Holding Corp. has entered into an agreement with the County of Marin to support the planned biking facility on a 17-acre portion of Stafford Lake Park just west of Novato. The deal is for $100,000 over the next three years in return for several promotional rights.
The Supervisors’ approval of the sponsorship brought total sponsorships and donations to $592,850, more than $100,000 over the $480,000 Phase 1 construction estimate. The Board unanimously approved the construction plan, and the bidding is open through May 29. The total cost of the park, following a second phase later on, is estimated at $850,000.
Marin County Parks Principal Landscape Architect Stephen Petterle said the bike park effort is carrying a lot of momentum into the targeted late-summer opening date.
“We received well over 200 donations – a lot of support from the community at large – and that was really impressive,” Petterle said. “The sponsorships provided the big money, but it was families and kids who provided the spirit.”
Petterle said Julia Violich, Mark Weir and Al Baumann of the Friends of Stafford Lake Bike Park were active in securing the Fox sponsorship and that additional sponsorships are being explored. The facility also has sponsorship support from the Violich Family Foundation, Mike’s Bikes, Wilderness Trail Bikes, Santa Cruz Bicycles and Bike Monkey.
The full-spectrum bike park will enable riders of all ages to learn and improve bicycling skills in a positive, healthy and family-friendly environment. It is slated to include a single-track loop trail, gravity-fed flow trails with jumps and berms, several pump tracks, north shore-style elevated trails, a dual slalom course and much more.
It is anticipated the park will be built not only by certified contractors and trail builder subcontractors but also by volunteers. Learn more about how to help the project and follow the park’s progress at www.staffordlakebikepark.com.