Written by Tom Berridge and published February 23 in Burnaby Now

Burnaby Mountain has been approved as a possible site for a cross-country mountain bike festival this summer. The non-profit West Coast Racing cycling club has been granted permission to hold a fat-wheel festival at the Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area July 13. Parks commissioners approved the idea unanimously during a parks and recreation commission meeting Feb. 20 at Confederation Centre. The highlight would be a B.C. Cup race all the way up Cardiac Hill and then down the new Gearjammer route and through lower park trails.

“It’s a good time and showcases Burnaby as a recreational destination,” said Mike Tunnah, president of West Coast Racing. “It’s exciting, and I hope it’s a positive thing, and if the city is permitting it, they must see it as a positive thing as well.”

But Tunnah added that his group has not yet decided whether the ultimate destination for the festival would be in Burnaby, Belcarra or elsewhere.

“If we get approval (from our board of directors), we’ll see where the club wants to go and how we’re going to stage it. It’s all part of the process,” said Tunnah.

West Coast Racing proposed to have events for kids under 10 and teens, as well as suitable races for first-time cyclists.

A family relay event would also be planned along the Barnet Trail and the new single track Hang Your Hat trail.

Tunnah said a Burnaby festival would include a biking Expo, where cycling groups could peddle their goods and services to the public.

The West Coast Racing proposal also calls for a barbecue and demo trials on the new skills site on the old Barnet lands.

West Coast Racing has the endorsement of the Burnaby Mountain Biking Association and Cycling B.C., which also supports the Giro di Burnaby road races in Burnaby Heights, later in July.

A draft user agreement between West Coast Racing and the city includes an event fee and costs for parks patrol during the event.

Council liaison Pietro Calendino suggested a minimum $5 million in insurance coverage be asked of the organizers.

Parks director Dave Ellenwood added trails impacted by the race would only be closed to other users for a maximum of two hours during the festival.

RELAY FOR THE KIDS

The City of Burnaby will partner with the Easter Seals 24 Hour Relay for Kids again this year.

The 29th annual fundraiser will be held at Swangard Stadium on June 14 and 15.

The event has raised more than $29 million for children with disabilities and their families in B.C.

As well as sponsoring the event, Burnaby teams have raised more than $80,000 for the charity during the long association.

The city provides a host of services for the relay from facility rental, maintenance services and revenue loss from concession and pool staffing. The estimated cost of the sponsorship is more than $32,600.

GREEN FEES RISE

There will be a modest increase in weekend golf course green fees this year.

Adult fees for 18 holes at Riverway and Burnaby Mountain courses will go up by a loonie on weekends.

The cost of a round of pitch and putt on Burnaby’s Central Park and Kensington courses will remain at $10.25, still almost 10 per cent below the market average.

With the slight weekend increase, both Riverway and Burnaby Mountain remain the least expensive golf links in the Lower Mainland.

SPENDING OK’D

Parks commissioners voted to request city council OK $800,625 from the city’s capital reserves budget to finance seven projects.

Completion of the bike skills facility and construction and realignment of trials in the Stoney Creek area of Burnaby Mountain Park will cost $300,000.

Building maintenance and upgrades of playground sets to CSA standards are earmarked for another $300,000.

Installations of automatic drinking fountains at Swangard, Civic Square, City Hall, Charles Rummel spray pool and the replacement of six old fountains and automation of various shrub beds are earmarked for another $50,000.