FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
VILLAGE OF PEMBERTON SECURES FUNDING FOR PEMBERTON AREA MOUNTAIN BIKE SKILLS PARK
Park to be delivered in partnership with Pemberton Off-Road Cycling Association
PEMBERTON, BC – The Village of Pemberton has been successful in securing $974,258 in funding through the Community Economic Resilience stream of the Community Economic Recovery Infrastructure Program (CERIP) for the construction of the Pemberton Area Mountain Bike Skills Park.
“The Village of Pemberton is delighted that we have received the funding to move forward with the Pemberton Area Mountain Bike Skills Park,” said Mike Richman, Village of Pemberton Mayor.
“The Park will be an important community amenity that will give cyclists of all ages and abilities an opportunity to grow competency and knowledge in a safe and controlled manner while supporting the community's social, economic and health needs. This is wonderful news for our whole mountain bike community.”
The Pemberton Area Mountain Bike Skills Park will be located at the Pemberton & District Recreation Site located on Pemberton Farm Road East. The Park will provide residents and visitors access to a quality, world-class recreation facility, identified as a regional priority due to the area's limited recreation facilities.
The project also supports the vision of the Pemberton & District Recreation Site by providing a local, accessible, safe, positive environment for all members, encouraging active lifestyles.
“The Mountain Bike Skills Park will be a fantastic addition to the Pemberton & District Recreation Site, which will serve Pemberton and the surrounding area, including Area C of the SLRD,” said SLRD Electoral Area C Director, Russell Mack.
“We’d like to congratulate the Village of Pemberton on this successful grant application, and thank them for their ongoing commitment to this work, that enhances the recreation services for our residents.”
The Park will be 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 Bree Thorlakson, Executive Director, Pemberton Off-Road Cycling Association.
“We are grateful to the Province of BC for this generous contribution towards the Park. This investment will bolster our local economy while serving our local and visiting biking community. PORCA looks forward to rolling up our sleeves working alongside our local government partners to deliver this incredible community asset.”
The proposed Mountain Bike Skills Park is one of four outdoor recreation amenities planned at the Pemberton & District Recreation Site. The site concept was informed by extensive community consultation in 2013.
To view Community Economic Recovery Infrastructure Program project information, visit https://news.gov.bc.ca/files/2.24.2021_CERIP_CER_projects.pdf
-END-
Media inquiries to be directed to:
Vinka Hutchinson
Communications & Grant Coordinator
Village of Pemberton
Phone: 604.894.6135 x 230
Email: vhutchinson@pemberton.ca
Patricia Westerholm
Communications Coordinator
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