Bike park stepping stone for youngsters

A bike park designed specifically for young children opened in Wanaka at the weekend.

It has been described as the missing link in the town’s bike trails.

Simon MacFarlane, of Wanaka, was one of many parents who gathered at the end of Aubrey Rd on Saturday afternoon under cold, damp skies for the opening of the Bremner Bay junior bike park.

Mr MacFarlane said he had three children who would be using the bike park now and a fourth in a year or two.

He described it as "absolutely brilliant".

"I think it is a fabulous opportunity for the kids to learn some ground skills. It is probably the missing link in the bike trails for the kids here.

Simon MacFarlane, of Wanaka, helps his daughter Zara (2) on the opening day of the Bremner Bay...
Simon MacFarlane, of Wanaka, helps his daughter Zara (2) on the opening day of the Bremner Bay junior bike park. He described the new facility as absolutely brilliant and the missing link in the bike trails around Wanaka. PHOTO: KERRIE WATERWORTH
"It is going to be really good to help them make that step between the lake track and going into Sticky [Forest] and going into the flow trails they have been building elsewhere."

Queenstown Lakes District council parks and reserves officer Diana Manson said the project had been two years in the making.

It had cost $20,000 and was made possible through the efforts of two Wanaka Rotary group members, Dirt Dynamics, the Men’s Shed, the Wanaka Community workshop and Wanaka ward councillor Quentin Smith.

Ms Manson said there was no age restriction but the park was geared towards junior riders.

"There is often conflict with them on other parks and so that is why we really wanted to focus on them," she said.

Council arborists had turned tree stumps into gnome faces and mushrooms and fairy doors had been secured to tree trunks.

"This was so the fairies know how to get home," Ms Manson said.

kerrie.waterworth@odt.co.nz

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