An illegally-developed mountain bike park was so well known that even Google Maps listed it as 鈥淯nofficial Walnut Grove Mountain Bike Park鈥� before a recent Township of 91原创 crackdown.
The bike park is located at the end of Telegraph Trail near 204th Street, on land that is both Township-owned and private, in a ravine that runs through Walnut Grove north of 88th Avenue.
Township council heard about the ravine in a July 9 report that was discussed at the July 13 council meeting.
The site includes a number of smooth dirt paths, small ramps and jumps, a fire pit, and some garbage scattered near Yorkson Creek.
According to the report, when staff recently became aware of the secret bike park, they found that embankments had been cut and filled, and tree roots and streamside plants had been removed in an environmentally sensitive area.
鈥淒uring the site visit, youth and younger members of the public were observed utilizing hand-held equipment, such as shovels, axes, and wheelbarrows, to complete the referenced construction work,鈥� the report says.
There was evidence that the work has been going on for 鈥渁 number of year.鈥�
In fact, someone has labelled the site 鈥淯nofficial Walnut Grove Bike Park鈥� on Google Maps.
The Township is planning to fence off the entrance to the site.
Another portion of the site, closer to 88th Avenue, has already been cut off with temporary fencing, with multiple NO TRESPASSING and PRIVATE PROPERTY signs.
The adjacent landowner has been in touch with the Township, and said that an unused road allowance was providing an access point to the site.
Ramin Seifi, the Township鈥檚 general manager of community development, noted that the local youth have been 鈥渧ery innovative and creative鈥� in creating the illicit bike park, but it is impacting the natural environment, and endangering the teens on land they don鈥檛 have the right to be on.
鈥淚t poses public safety concerns, environmental concerns, liability concerns,鈥� said Seifi.
Staff wanted the council to know about the plans to fence off the site in case youth or their parents approached the council to bring up the sudden closure of the site.
The Township will also approach Google about having the 鈥淯nofficial Walnut Grove Bike Park鈥� designation removed.
Seifi said that there are still hopes for some public access for the ravine area, however. Talks were underway with the landowner about completing an official path to allow access through the ravine to 88th Avenue.
