Plans for a new bike park at Castle Park are gathering momentum – with an exciting proposal to create a new outdoor space where people of all ages can ride, develop their skills, get active and have fun.
The proposed Dorchester Bike Park could become a fantastic community resource, particularly for young people and families. But to help turn the plans into reality, the project team now needs Dorchester to get behind it.
-> Complete the Bike Park survey<-
Dorchester Bike Park would transform the existing BMX track into a much more ambitious facility, with a tarmac pump track, dirt jumps and a skills area designed for a range of ages and abilities.
A community resource for Dorchester
Dorchester has relatively few dedicated outdoor facilities for young people. The Bike Park would create a new place to meet, be active and have fun outdoors.
There is an active travel benefit too. Enjoying cycling and developing skills and confidence on a bike can help establish habits that carry over into everyday life, while providing another opportunity for outdoor exercise and recreation.
This also fits well with Dorchester Town Council’s own Community Implementation Plan, which includes a pump track among potential developments for outdoor exercise and sport.
A lot of work has already gone into the project
The project started with a group of local parents and riders looking at how the existing BMX trails at Castle Park could be improved. Since then, the group has worked with Dorchester Town Council and pump track developers, developed and refined its proposals, commissioned plans and concept designs, and built public support for the idea.
The proposals have grown from rejuvenating the existing trails into plans for a much more substantial facility for the town.
But facilities like this don’t happen by magic. They depend on people putting in the work to develop a viable project – and on the wider community showing that there is demand for it.
This is where you can help
The Bike Park team now needs evidence of community engagement and support as it takes the project forward.
It has launched a short survey to find out who would use the Bike Park, how people might use it and what the wider community thinks of the proposal. The results will provide important evidence for further discussions with the Town Council and, importantly, future applications for funding.
-> Complete the Bike Park survey<-
More than 1,600 people signed the recent petition. This survey goes further by gathering more detailed views, so please complete it even if you signed the petition.
You don’t need to be a BMX or mountain bike rider to take part – the survey is an opportunity for the wider community to have its say too.
The plans are there. What the project needs now is for Dorchester to show that it wants them.
To further support or stay updated about the proposals, follow Dorchester Bike Park Facebook Group.