April 29/08 2:03 am - Tim DaSilva BMX Race Track to be Demolished

Posted by Editoress on 04/29/08
 

Press release from DaSilva Family

20 year old's death will be in vain because of a missed permit


Tim DaSilva died in a tragic accident while building his dream; a place for children, youth and their families to enjoy exercise, companionship and the spirit of competition. His family has taken solace in the fact that his dream had become a reality and a unique amateur sports facility that anyone from across the GTA and beyond could enjoy. Unfortunately the proper permit hadn't been procured before he began building on the private land. Now the Niagara Escarpment Commission (NEC) is forcing the family to flatten their son's dream in 49 days or the owner of the private land will face stiff penalties.

'The track Tim created represented a place where we could go to be near him. We feel closer to him there than anywhere else. It was the last place he was happy and alive and it was truly his dream to bring this facility to the families of southwestern Ontario,' said Zira DiSilva, Tim's mom.

When Tim died tragically, he was completing his work on a BMX bicycle dirt track in Halton Hills. Built on private land, at the owner's support, the track was designed with local, provincial and national level competition in mind, where kids aged three and up could practice and compete. BMX is now an Olympic sport and Canada is trying hard to catch up to the impressive skills many other countries have been fostering for years. Tim was an Ontario Quest for Gold recipient and a Team Ontario member and in an Olympic year, it hurts all the more for the family and BMX community to potentially lose a track that would help them gain the skills they need to compete.

Tim died on July 15, 2006 with the track, affectionately named 'Tim's Track' being completed in September 2006. Unfortunately, the track has come under disapproval and the decision has been made by the NEC to close it. The track is constructed of native soil and pedal powered, non-motorized bikes are ridden on it.

The family and the BMX community are calling for support to have the track re-opened and the missing permit granted. Not just for Tim's family, but for the community who benefits from having this unique recreational facility for amateur sport that doesn't exist anywhere else in Halton Hills and is in limited supply in Ontario. Halton Place is very supportive of Amateur Sports in Ontario and hopes to continue with the Tim DaSilva BMX Track. The Tim DaSilva BMX Track Executive are currently attempting to be added to the NEC Agenda for the next NEC meeting in Tobermory, Ontario on May 14-15.

For further reference, please visit.

'Save the Tim DaSilva BMX Track - we need your help' Facebook

www.timothy-dasilva.last-memories.com

timdasilva.virtual-memorials.com

www.timdasilvabmx.com

www.track2000bmxracing.com Tim DaSilva Memorial, bottom left hand of home page