City To Shut Down BMX Track

Published May 26th, 2008

By Nicol Jenkins
Editor

Tyler Faoro has dreamed of going to the Olympics for BMX racing.
However by the end of this month, Faoro and other BMX hopefuls can no longer train or show off high jumps on BMX bikes in Coral Springs. The city is shutting down the BMX track May 31 to start construction of the new fire station and hardening of the facade of the new police station to withstand hurricane force winds. The current site is located on the west side of Mullins Park.

“The site has been there for more than 20 years and there is nowhere else to train except West Palm,” he said.
Jerry Faoro of the Coral Springs BMX Association says the city promised an “equally accommodating” facility. Having no available sites in the city, officials asked the county to allow the BMX track at Quiet Waters Park.

“The problem is that the county wants the city to pay for it, and the city promised to contribute but now they want to cut out the funding. Our national association is willing to help with funding. The kids need a place to practice, race and train for the 2012 Olympics,” he said.

Rick Engle, Director of Parks and Recreation, says the city told the BMX Association two years ago that they would have to find a new location.

“The current site will be used as a staging area for construction of the new fire station and hardening of a new police station as part of a bond passed. It has always been a temporary site,” said Engle. “The City Commission told them that they would have to vacate the site. There is no land in the city with enough room for the track and parking.”
The BMX Association has not reached an agreement with the county.

“The county doesn’t have any funds to build a track. The club would have to come up with the funds,” Engle said. “We didn’t reach an agreement to move the track, and the funding was taken away to use for other things in the city.”
“We just want a track,” said Faoro.