A major $150,000 upgrade to Bike Cochrane's LaunchPad could get underway as early as Monday and will more than double the days the popular downtown destination is available for use annually.
A major contribution by Heidelberg Materials and their network of contacts has helped move the project forward to this fall.
When completed, families will be able to safely enjoy its new design and paved surface over 200 days a year, says Paul Perrault, active transportation chair for Bike Cochrane. Its current dirt surface is typically useable 60 to 70 days a year.
With a planned 340m of bidirectional asphalt track, the new Launchpad bike park will allow for riders from two to 100 to ride strider bikes, BMX bikes, dirt jumpers, mountain bikes, scooters, and even skateboards, says bike park designer James Norton of Bike-track.com.
“This layout provides a good mix of direction corners, green beginner loop, blue intermediate jump lines to add progression/repeat visitation, and some intermediate/advanced transfer lines effectively doubling the track length," explains Norton. "The track can change rider direction when allowable and can be ridden as a figure of eight giving more riders the ability to enjoy it.”
The warm Chinooks winds enjoyed by Cochrane will play a role in expanding use of the pump park.
"We'll be able to throw a shovel out and we'll have kids likely riding our pump track in January, February, March instead of waiting for all of the frost to come out of the ground. You know, we're just we're so excited to have more days that that kids can ride and enjoy the pump track."
Perrault anticipates the project will move along at a quick pace, weather permitting, and could be open ahead of Thanksgiving. The focus is on leveraging the balance of the construction season and he doesn't anticipate they will hold a major kickoff this year.
He says the generous support of Heidelberg Materials has given Bike Cochrane the financial confidence to move forward now.
“We’re so grateful to Mike Smith, Lee Therres, Kevin Wilson, and the whole team at Heidelberg Materials for seeing the potential of this project”, said Perrault. “Rather than being content with a smaller contribution, Heidelberg asked ‘How can we build this project sooner for Cochrane?’ Cochrane is very lucky to have such a community-minded company, and our 1,000-plus members of Bike Cochrane and the whole community can’t wait to ride this new pump track!”
Making the community a better place for all is important to Heidelberg Materials, says general manager Lee Therres.
“While Cochrane may not know the name Heidelberg Materials as we recently acquired the operations of Green Drop Rock Products, the whole team here has been a staple of the Cochrane business community since 2005. When we donated aggregate to help build Bike Cochrane’s first bike park, we recognized Cochrane’s growing biking community, and we are very proud to now support the next phase of this development.”
Heidelberg Materials is one of the world's largest integrated manufacturers of building materials with leading market positions in cement, aggregates, and ready-mixed concrete. They are represented in more than 50 countries with around 51,000 employees at almost 3,000 locations.
Even with this contribution, the project wouldn't have been possible without the support of many others, says Perrault.
MORE: Fundraising begins for major upgrade to LaunchPad
Garmin and the Quarry owner (Rosedale Developments) have extended the usage of the site, and many individuals and organizations have made contributions, says Perrault. The list includes the Bow RiversEdge Campground, Canlin Energy, Inter Pipeline, Pembina Community Investment, House of Cars Cochrane, Two Pharmacy, Beer Den, Qualico Communities, Town of Cochrane’s community grant program, their corporate members, 50/50 participants, silent auction donors, and all of their members from the last few years.
One of the many undertakings and contributions of Bike Cochrane to the community, including being the official town trail stewards, the LaunchPad began to take shape in the fall of 2019 and opened in 2020.
MORE: Central Pump Park taking shape in Quarry
Bike Cochrane’s mission is to serve Cochrane through the promotion of, and advocacy for, cycling for all ages.