Gene`s BMX News

*** University Place BMX Update - Downfall ***

I sent the following letter to University Place and am now
officially giving up on the project. It has come apparent to me that
they don't really want BMX in the park. Much of it is probably my
part because I don't have the time to ride them and push the issue.
If anyone else is interested in pursuing this it could still
possibly happen but would take time and effort to keep on the people
in charge. The main person to contact would be Joan Lawson - Senior
Parks Project Manager - (253) 460-5410

Dear University Place representative,

My name is Danny Bushnell and several years ago myself and several
others in the BMX community were contacted by University Place about
a new park to be built. We were told that you wanted to do something
for the kids and were planning on a park with a skate park and a BMX
track. You contacted us because you wanted our help with building
the BMX track. I was the picked to be main person from the BMX group
and worked for several years on fundraising and planning of this BMX
track. I worked with Jon Ortgiesen on the plans and how we could
build the track and have room for a future building. All was looking
good. The original plan was to build the skate park and BMX track
first then the rest of the park would follow. Then when the skate
park got built we were put off because they needed to use the land
where the track was to go for staging and running utilities for the
rest of park. Then suddenly when they acted like it was close to
happen, U.P. contacted the ABA and found out that the track would
only have insurance during race time. Then suddenly U.P. said they
had to start over with the plans and re-evaluate if it could still
happen. The explanation I got from the assistant attorney was that
because we charged a fee when we raced that the liability could come
back to us if someone got hurt during off hours. This should be no
different than the Baseball and Soccer fields that charge a fee then
let the public use it during off times. When the track is not
holding sanctioned races it reverts back to normal park use just
like the skate park and people are liable for themselves.

When this came about I no longer got any information from anyone
about raising money or anything. I have sent emails that were never
replied to and I am now ready to give up on this project.

I will be terminating the non-profit organization that I started for
this and have closed the bank account. I took the money from the
account and paid Lionel Pummel for the website that he started up
( http://www.universityplacebmx.com ) and the rest will cover a small portion
of what I have donated for this project. Lionel had paid for the
website for 2 years with the promise that his son's entries would be
covered when racing the track.

This is a sad thing as 2 of our local riders just returned from
Brazil after winning the World Championships and with local riders
trying to prepare to qualify for the 2008 Olympics. They will
continue and train at the other local tracks but it is sad that
University Place only wanted BMX when they thought they were getting
free insurance then backed out.

Regretfully

Danny Bushnell

CC - BMXtalk - Wed, 02 Aug 2006 11:08:45 -0000