The Diamond BMX Club is hoping to make up for a late start to the racing season by investing in major upgrades to the track at Prairie Oasis Park in Warman.
The club has received permission from the City of Warman to add asphalt to the berms of the raceway, as well as construct an announcer booth at the top of track.
Warman City Council adopted a resolution at its video-conference meeting on Monday, May 25 to approve a request from the Diamond BMX Club to do the upgrades.
The cost of the improvements will be shouldered by the club, a volunteer-run organization that is responsible for maintaining the track. The track itself is located on city-owned property. There is currently an operating agreement between the city and the club regarding the property.
A separate agreement for the capital investments will be drafted and signed prior to their construction at the site.
Warman Recreation and Community Services Manager Paul McGonigal said in a report to the May 25 council meeting that the club is looking to improve the facility in order to reduce maintenance costs and also to attract major BMX events to the city.
Adding the asphalt to the berms will reduce the need to control weeds and mow grass, and also eliminate erosion after rainfall events, said McGonigal.
“Adding asphalt will provide the club with a competitive edge that will assist them in securing larger, more prominent events,” said McGonigal.
“The announcer booth will be a positive addition to the raceway and will provide the club with more opportunity to draw larger events,” he added. “The Recreation and Community Services Department has no issues with either of these improvements.”
Construction of both projects is expected to begin in the next few weeks. McGonigal said the club is hoping to have the projects completed by fall.
While the club normally would have started its race season by late May, the COVID-19 pandemic has delayed the schedule this year. Currently, the track is not being maintained because all City of Warman recreational facilities are officially closed.
However, city officials have advised that residents and visitors are allowed to utilize the BMX track for non-competitive recreational bicycle riding, as long as they maintain appropriate physical distancing..