July 10/03 9:18 am - GTA Velodrome Proposal

Posted by Editoress on 07/10/03
 

GTA Velodrome Proposal

This morning, a Midweek Cycling Club representative met with the Business Planning Head of the city of Mississauga re. the location of a 250 meter velodrome which would incorporate a 200 meter in-line and wheelchair sports track, together with an adjacent BMX track The main facility would be eventually be covered with a clear span structure. A 3.5 kilometer road circuit for cycling, in-line skating and wheelchair sports was also on the agenda.

As a result, the Midweek CC has been asked to submit a formal proposal, together with a business plan emphasizing, sustainability, community-based activities, and uniqueness.
Although, our first dialogue has been with Mississauga, we intend to approach, Brampton, Oakville and metropolitan Toronto with the same proposal.

To emphasise in the strongest terms that a velodrome is long overdue in the nation‚s largest population centre, please email John Lohuis, the Director of Parks and Recreation for Mississauga at: john.lohuis@mississauga.ca and Gil Penalosa, Business Planning Director at: gil.penalosa@missisauga.ca , giving your support for the Midweek CC‚s proposal. It wouldn‚t hurt to mention the small number of Ontario athletes who are selected to represent Canada in international track competition, large numbers of BMX free-stylers who would find track racing a rush. And the increasing swell of arthritic baby-boomers who are looking for active pursuits that aren‚t painful.

As a footnote, John Lohuis chaired the Windham Centre Committee that first developed the WinDel track and Gil Penalosa was one of those responsible for building the new Bogoto Velodrome for the World Track Championships in Columbia.

Peter McCaffery,
President, Midweek Cycling Club Inc