nspace wrote:
Has the plan posted on the Milton website somehow changed from not being a multi-use facility to a cycling only facility since I last checked? I recall there being 3 basketball courts in the infield in the plan in addition to a fitness gym, running/walking track. To say it would only be used by cyclists seems inaccurate.
To clarify I have never stated that the Velodrome would be used only by cyclists. I am tired of reinterating so just read my post from June 2nd, 2012.
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Thanks Rick but it seems you are only responding to half of my comment. My point was that the VDome will not service the masses in the community, only a small intrest group of cyclers who will run the gambit 70% of the time. If we concentrated on building rec and community centres on our own time and dime without handouts from the Pan AM games legacy fund I think we could better plan facilities that would be appealing and accessable to the majority rather than a small niche of residents. The reason I said the VDome is a money pit is for that reason, because it only services a small majority. I wouldn't call a community or rec centre a money pit even if it did operate at a loss because it services the masses.
Then there's always my quote from June 3rd, 2012
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Also any major cycling event would surely cause a cancellation of all other activities within the infield, so if I'm playing in a Tuesday Night Rec Basketball League and there is the Ontario Cycling Championships (I don't follow cycling, forgive me if there is no such thing) going on or something is it tough noogies for me? This obviously would not be an issue if we were to build a C & R centre (I'm getting tired of writing community and rec centre).
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Is the fact that it brings others from all around to spend money in your community a bad thing? People come out for weekend of racing, they need to go out and eat at local restaurants, bike stores can sell track bikes and service them, etc. Local businesses in the community will find ways to also benefit from this. This is why towns build things that are attractive to more than just local residents. For example, there is an indoor bike park in Cleveland, OH (Ray's indoor mtb park). People came from all over to ride and spend the weekend there, and who the heck wants to drive 5-6hr or more to visit Cleveland? Joyride150 took a chance and tried to do their take on it in the GTA. People said it would fail. People said it wouldn't be able to sustain itself because who wants to ride indoors during the summer? Ray, owner of the Cleveland park was interviewed by the Canadian Media in response to a press-release about Joyride150 opening its doors and to get his opinion, and he even said that the park would never be able to keep its doors open all year round.
You aren't a resident of Milton yet so let me ask you a question, where are these people from all over going to stay? We only have one hotel! Well two if you count the 5th Wheel. More people from out of town sleeping in their cars will not only fill up our public parking lots but will also create grid lock nightmares on the weekends because we invest in pet projects here in Milton. Velodrome GOOD! Infrastructure BAD!
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Despite the warnings, they did it, and in their first year of operation they had their busiest days during the summer. They have a spin studio for all the moms and dads dropping their kids off, summer camps and youth programs, and kids are coming from the local community in addition to being from all around the GTA. Kids are loading up their bikes onto the Go Bus and coming out to ride. Who is to say that, that sort of success and community involvement cannot come to the Velodrome? I know this is a more privatized example, but a velodrome is a much bigger investment and requires a more purpose built building for it to happen, but it goes to show that offerings are greater than it may appear on the surface.
I'm all for private enterprise. Anything I can do to help you open a private Velodrome in town would be my pleasure. I'm sure surrounding businesses would love it too! Think of all the added business they'll get from tourists from around the continent. When it comes to building a public venue, I'm of the belief governments at all levels have over extended themselves and mal adjusted to the current economic climate.
As far as contributing to local businesses sure they may make a buck but on the end they'll just have to hand it right over to their municpal government when property taxes rise to support a mostly half empty Velodrome.
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Maybe Joe from down the street might wake up at 5am to take his kid to train on the track? The old lady can still work at snack bar can't she? I don't know what that has to do with a velodrome versus another type of recreational facility?
You're playing on my words. The early morning practice and old lady behind the counter was simply used to paint a picture of what it is to be a part of a local community. It was not meant to be taken literally. I was just trying to illustrate the contrast between people coming to the facility from across Ontario/Canada/etc as opposed to being on a more local scale.