The Facts

  • existing park

    • size  400 000 m2 (99 acres)

    • 40 000 m2 flat (area of camper parking on the google map)

    • Calgary heritage site  ---  60 years at this location

    • 30 000 participants / year 

  • bus garages

    • existing victoria park barn is 25 000 m2 building > 40 000 m2, including employee parking

    • this area is available in the existing park

      • no expansion opportunity without major, extremely expensive dirt moving

    • access on burbank road was not designed for hundreds of bus trips / day

    • recommend acquiring the block north of track

      • 7 street SE to 11 street SE and 46 avenue SE to the park

    • the site is already flat, paved and serviced

      • the existing park is not flat or paved or serviced

    • 100 000+ m2 available

    • superb access

      • immediately adjacent to major roads

        • blackfoot trail and 46 avenue SE and 11st SE, and the onto the pending 50 avenue connector

  • 50 avenue connector

    • about 20 meters above blackfoot trail at point of crossing

    • exploit flying over the park for viewing active motocross events and alternate uses

    • expand sidewalks for event viewing

      • room for concessions and facilities

    • use traffic control to allow for parking during major events

    • make it unique to calgary and advertise it world wide

    • will require 20m extra clearance to allow for 20m park elevation rise

    • astounding view of the park and the city

  • new park vision

    • oversight committee  ---  city / wild rose motorcycle association / all other interested parties and clubs

    • city to contract wild rose motocross association to maintain and operate

    • upgrade to city of calgary park standards

      • washrooms and concessions

    • promote world class events

      • the world motorsports master association, FIM, has already tried to get major events at blackfoot

    • partner with all local TV stations and networks

      • record and broadcast highlights weekly

      • broadcast on web in real time

      •  promote weekly events

      • provide schedules of all activities

    • provide free access for calgarians

    • increase utilization 5 fold  >>  150 000 particpants

      • 10% of our citizens

    • have competitions and non-competition times for each category

    • promote all hours access

      • jeeps love to chug around in the dark with their driving lights on 

    • mountain bikes

    • e-bikes

    • cross country ski

      • tough course for probably two weeks a year

    • motorcycle side cars

    • trials motorcycles

    • quads

    • dune buggies

    • 4 x 4

    • monster trucks

    • rally cars

    • mini vans

    • run what you brung

  • economics, from a layman's point of view

    • retain exact topography of the existing park, only 20 meters higher

    • excavate 10 meters over 230 000 m2 area

    • permanently store clean demolition rubble in the excavation plus 20 meters above existing grades

    • 6 900 000 m2

      • probably a 20 year project 

    • assumed density 500 kg / m2

    • 3 450 000 tonne

    • current disposal cost at existing city dump is $170 / tonne

    • >>  $586 500 000 income from disposal fees

    • assume direct operating cost is one half

    • assume half of the excavated material is used on site

    • current clean fill disposal cost is 0 - $10 / tonne

    • >>$11 500 000 disposal costs for excavated material

    • trucking cost $50 000 000

    • >>$231 750 000 net after all costs

  • new bus barn proposal

    • assume twice the existing barn size > 80 000m2

      • includes employee parking which is currently outside at victoria park

      • up to 160 000m2 available with two stories

        • should build max and have a joint use facility

        • provide space to expropriated businesses

          • and rent out excess to businesses as a unique under-park mall

    • use tilt-up concrete construction

      • least expensive and fastest

    • two stories assumed

    • earth sheltered construction

      • only entrances showing

    • acquire and incorporate the railroad right of way

      • clean up existing creosote contamination

        • relatively inexpensively

    • average 10 meters permanently stored construction rubble

      • potential of 40 meters if brought to park level (not included in these numbers)

    • becomes part of the blackfoot all access park

      • combined park is 25% larger

    • much faster construction due to elimination of extensive (and expensive) dirt work

    • landscape this portion as a contiguous city park for non motorized vehicles

    • acquisition of new bus barn site

      • $110 000 000

    • per above estimates >> $85 000 000 net income after all costs for this site

    • combined with park >> $316 750 000 net income to the city / blackfoot all access park, after all costs

  • other considerations

    • the victoria park site will be worth $400 000 000 to $2 000 000 000 after demolition of the current bus barn

      • we request consideration that a portion of this windfall be used in support of the park

    • we do apologize for this apparently ridiculous last ditch effort.

      • the prize is worth the effort

      • this concept is economically viable and completely achievable

        • no new technology or science required

        • assuming 5 fold increase in utilization >> 150 000 annual participants

          • 10% of the city population 

    • the project will require immense efforts from the entire city staff and the advisory board

      • the prize is worth the effort

      • you will become heroes on the world stage

    • 138k registered motorbikes in alberta, estimate 50 000 motorbikes in calgary, triple since 2000

      • many times more motorcycles that are not road registered

    • calgary has a dozen motorcycle dealers with hundreds of employees, many whose jobs depend upon this park 

    • the best bmx track in canada, would be lost.

    • the existing world class rc park would be lost

      • please include both groups on the offend-o-meter

    • REMEMBER RACE CITY

      • it is now a recycling warehouse and pond

      • what have we learned in the 16 years since it was closed?