The extensive, undulating, mountain-bike skill and stunt course was pushed from the ground up by local youth and the wider community beginning in 2023, and has cost $182,000 exclusive of GST so far.
"It’s not funded at all by council; the majority is funded through the Project Bruce Community-led Development Partnership with the Department of Internal Affairs, with a lovely $20,000 contribution from Sport Otago," Project Bruce lead Kim Schiller said.
"We had a gentleman keen on mountain biking join Project Bruce at exactly the same time we were introduced to a couple of young people from Milton who wanted to see more cycling facilities in town and it grew from there," she said.
Surveys, school visits, social media and community canvassing followed.
After consultation, the team chose the site in Morgan Park’s southwest after council drainage upgrades were completed.
Christchurch-based specialists Graded Earth was selected and began work on November 4.
"We’ve built a few tracks now, but the way children of all of all ages keep coming up to us here in Milton, excited and asking question and really politely thanking us and giving us praise and encouragement is extraordinary, it’s just blown us away," Graded Earth owner and track designer Milty Coultas said.
The Clutha District Council will maintain the finished track.
Mrs Schiller said a few finishing touches aside, it was hoped the project would be ready by Christmas.
