Young riders attempt one of the jumps on the track. PHOTO/SUPPLIED
CAS SAUNDERS
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It might look nearly ready, but Lansdowne Mountain Bike Park organisers are pleading with bikers to wait until summer to ride the tracks.
Masterton district councillor Gary Caffell said the park was at 60 per cent completion this, with native planting scheduled for the end of June.
However, on Wednesday he echoed the pleas of the park’s organisers for bikers to remain off the tracks until the park was open, lest a “superb facility” be ruined.
This week, a post on the Lansdowne Mountain Bike Park Facebook group said the closed tracks were being ridden while wet, and it was damaging the park.
After a six-year battle, organisers Sam McDonald and Daryn Murphy said they were excited to see their vision becoming, but people needed to be patient.
“To have this track in Masterton, how good is that? We [bikers] have a home now,” Murphy said.
“Nothing is impossible in this town.
He said young riders had a taste of the park during a couple of open days to help “bed the track down” but said the parks would not be fully operational until summer.
The project received funding from more than 20 local businesses, with Gareth Norris from Jennian Homes Wairarapa providing the first donation of $25,000.
Masterton District Council provided the land and said it would contribute $3000 a year for maintenance and $7000 worth of native plants.
Timber seating would also be installed at the bottom of the track.
The organisers were thrilled to see the community supporting the project.
