City Scene - September 2000: Riccarton-Wigram - Top racing in store at revamped park

September 2000

Clean Up For Beaches

Puppy Playschool

Week of Event to Celebrate City's Heritage

Flush Median Strips - Making Roads Safer

Efficiency Is Positive

Showtime Coming

Top racing in store at revamped park

Championship BMX racing will be seen on Christchurch’s newest track at Kyle Park, Hornby, in October.
A BMX track was first established in Kyle Park nearly 20 years and recently, at a cost of about $500,000, the track has been relocated and a new storm water system also installed in the park.
The major revamp of the western end of the park solved drainage problems and created the new 5000 sq m BMX track. Storm water from the Hornby- Hei Hei area now runs into a landscaped pond on the site of the old BMX track.
The pond is sealed with a plastic liner under its gravel base.
Incoming storm water is then pumped to three shallow basins in Denton Park where it is slowly filtered through subsurface gravel.
The new pond was built on the former track to reduce excavation costs and to preserve large trees in the park.
Rushes and wetland grasses have been planted around the pond while a beach on the eastern side allows access. Before the redevelopment, storm water was discharged straight on to the eastern end of the park where it soaked through rubbish under the park.
Originally a shingle pit, this section of the park was used as a tip (Smart’s Pit) until 1972.
The track is now in the centre of the park where it is landscaped.
The South Island BMX championships will be held on 14-15 October and about 150 of the top riders will compete. But riders not associated with organised clubs are welcome to ride on the first day.
Various titles will be contested in the Mighty Elevens and Cruiser classes. In one section five top South Island 11- year- old riders will be selected to compete against five Australian champions on the final day of racing.
Among the competitors will be Christchurch City BMX Club members who performed well at the last national championships. They are 20- inch class: Abbey Payne (3rd 7- years girls), David Lomond (5th 15 male), Aaron Hooper (2nd elite), Glen Richardson (5th elite), Andrew Badman (6th elite); Cruiser class: Rikki Hammond (6th 13- 14), Aaron Hooper (1st elite), Glen Richardson (2nd elite), Andrew Badman (6th elite).
BMX attracts riders from four- year old to the mid- 30s. PIC: Christchurch’s newest BMX track at Kyle Park, Hornby, is ready for the South Island BMX champs.