World-class recreation facility in Pemberton now open to the public
PEMBERTON, BC – The Pemberton Bike Skills Park, located at Den Duyf Park (formerly the Pemberton and District Recreation Site) is officially open to the public.
“The Village of Pemberton is delighted to welcome the public to the newly completed Pemberton Bike Skills Park,” said Mike Richman, Village of Pemberton Mayor.
“This fantastic recreation facility will give riders of all ages and abilities an opportunity to grow competency and skill in a scalable and controlled manner.”
The Park provides residents and visitors access to a quality, world-class recreation facility, identified as a regional priority due to the area's limited recreation facilities.
“On behalf of the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District, and as the Area Director representing Electoral Area C, I am excited to see the official opening of the Pemberton Bike Skills Park, and to welcome the community to experience this much-anticipated amenity,” said SLRD Electoral Area C Director, Russell Mack.
“The park is an important addition to this recreation site, in a growing area of the valley, and I have no doubt it will be enjoyed by many, and for years to come. Congratulations to the Village of Pemberton, for securing funding for this project, and thank you to all of the partners for working together to provide recreation services to our residents.”
The Park includes four zones comprising a Pump Track, Skills Park, Drop Zone and Jump Lines. The Drop Zones and Jump Lines include a range of difficulty ratings allowing riders to progress as their skill and comfort level increase.
“Mountain Biking is an extremely popular sport in the Sea-to-Sky region so I am extremely pleased to have a facility of this calibre, that allows riders to learn and grow, available to our community,” said Mike Richman, Village of Pemberton Mayor.
The Park has been developed in partnership with the Pemberton Off-Road Cycling Association (PORCA)
“While Pemberton’s world-class bike trails are in high demand, they are extremely technical in nature given Pemberton's terrain and topography. The majority of Pemberton's trails require an intermediate skill level and there are very few flat beginner trails on which to learn or practice on,” said Ian Kruger, President, PORCA.
“This Park will provide a quality facility where riders can progress their skills to better prepare them to tackle more technical trails.”
“It’s great to see the growth of mountain biking in municipalities across the province, both locally and as a draw for tourists,” said Nathan Cullen, Minister of Municipal Affairs.
“This park will provide residents and visitors access to a world-class facility, designed through a community-based approach, and will continue our province's reputation as a leader in this sport.”
The Bike Skills Park is open from dawn to dusk daily except during Quiet Hours (11pm – 7am Monday to Saturday and 11pm – 9am Sunday and statutory holidays).
The construction of the Park was made possible by $974,258 in funding from the Province of British Columbia through the Community Economic Resilience stream of the Community Economic Recovery Infrastructure Program and $25,000 in funding from the Whistler Blackcomb Foundation.
The Pemberton Bike Skills Park is one of four outdoor recreation amenities planned at Den Duyf Park. The site concept was informed by extensive community consultation in 2013.
For more information about Den Duyf Park, visit pemberton.ca/denduyfpark.
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About the Village of Pemberton
Pemberton is one of the most desirable communities in BC and home to family farms, fresh outdoor adventures and stunning vistas. With over 2500 residents and just 30 km from Whistler, Pemberton prides itself on its creative and collaborative approach with the business community, local volunteer groups, neighbouring communities and key business and tourism partners such as Tourism Pemberton and the Pemberton & District Chamber of Commerce. Pemberton’s mild winters, warm summers and unique pioneer heritage provide an ideal place to enjoy arts, culture, history, recreation, dining, shopping and comfortable lodging.
About the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District
Located in southwestern BC, the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District (SLRD) is a local government federation consisting of four member municipalities (District of Lillooet, Village of Pemberton, Resort Municipality of Whistler, District of Squamish) and four unincorporated rural Electoral Areas (A, B, C, D). Headquartered in Pemberton, which is the approximate geographic centre of the region, the SLRD delivers a range of local, sub-regional and regional services to approximately 42,665 residents (2016 Census).
About the Pemberton Off-Road Cycling Association (PORCA)
The Pemberton Off Road Cycling Association was founded to support riders and trails of all levels. Through community involvement and trails stewardship, PORCA strives to maintain and enhance Pemberton's world class riding experience for residents and visitors.
Media inquiries to be directed to:
Vinka Hutchinson
Communications and Grant Coordinator
Village of Pemberton
Phone: 604.894.6135 x 230
Email: vhutchinson@pemberton.ca
Patricia Westerholm
Communications Manager
Phone: 604-894-6371 x 244
Email: PWesterholm@slrd.bc.ca
Bree Thorlakson
Executive Director
Pemberton Off-Road Cycling Association
Phone: (604) 905-9140
Email: bree@porcabikes.com