HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/6/2021 Item 4b, Isaacs (2)
From:Tate Isaacs <tatewisaacs03@gmail.com>
Sent:Tuesday,
To:Advisory Bodies
Subject:Public Comment- Bike parks and pump tracks
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Dear Parks and Rec. Commission,
I am writing to voice my unwavering support of the construction of a new bike park at either Sinsheimer or Laguna
Lake park. A little bit about me, I am a dedicated trial work volunteer in the city, I have worked with Ranger Neils
regularly up at the Eucs skills area on the Cuesta Grade dedicating many of my Sundays to improving the trial system. I
have also assisted with other projects in the Irish Hills working to restore proper drainage and trail functionality.
Additional I have attended city council meetings, parks and recreation outreach workshops and filled out multiple
surveys. Every time I have advocated for a bike park or bike skills area here in SLO at either Laguna Lake or Sinsheimer
park. As you can imagine nothing has happened, and I find myself again in an all too familiar spot. In fact the opposite
has happened the bike jumps near the Costco gas stationed have been destroyed by the city. I understand completely
that those jumps were illegal and I also understand that because those jumps were illegal they could be destroyed at
any time. I am not mad about the physical destruction of these jumps what I am upset about is what I feel was a
misunderstanding between the city and it’s users. The Costco jumps were where I learned how to build jumps. I spent
countless hours their honing and refining my trial building skills. I am a valuable trial volunteer, I know I’m a valuable
trail volunteer because Neils has told me. And I wouldn’t be anywhere near as valuable of a volunteer if it hadn’t been
for the Costco jumps. These jumps were a part of my development as a trail builder and now the city has made it clear
that there is no place within SLO city in which they allow this development to happen, except for volunteer trial work
days, which are typically on Wednesdays when me and many of my mountain biking friends are in school, or they are on
the weekend and in places usually only accessible by car. And while I can drive and I do drive to these workdays, I
understand that not everyone is afforded that luxury and therefore recognize a need for a new public space in which
volunteers can develop important trail building techniques and practices and foster a sense of care and pride in their
community. I also feel the misunderstanding was furthered by the city’s neglect to notify it’s users. The Costco jumps
where destroyed with no consultation of the public. The city did not try and come to a compromise or work out an
alternative solution. Not only this but the city neglected to even give the public notice of their actions, there was no
warning or heads up. I know this because one of the rangers at a workday I went to told me. Imagine how it feels as a
decorticated volunteer to have your hard work repaid by the destruction of your child hood jumps and you weren’t even
given the decency to know when it was going to happen. You don’t even have to imagine, I can tell you, I feel sad, let
down and upset. The topic of the construction of a new bike park here in SLO is more then just a conversation about
mountain biking or public recreation it a conversation about feeling heard and listened to, it’s a conversation about
feeling recognized and represented in governmental decisions and institutions. Our government was created to serve
the public and to secure our certain unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. And it was bestowed
upon the governed to change or abolish any form of government which didn’t reflect these values. A city whose
volunteers feel disrespected and citizens ignored is not a form of government which I appreciate even when the matters
are rather trivial such as the discussion of the addition of new biking facilities. I think the city may have underestimated
the affect they have had and the potential they do have to make an impression and difference in the community.
Sometimes we forget that younger people are our next generation, our next leaders, thinkers, businessmen and
taxpayers. When these individuals at a young age are ignored by their city government and have places that are special
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to them taken away by the same city government it sends a message that is likely to stick with them for the rest of their
life. I point this out with the purpose of revealing the great opportunity that is before all of you. You have the
opportunity to show a group of young individuals that their voice is being heard, that the city government does care
about their input and by respectfully participating in governmental processes these kids can make a difference in their
community. This will defiantly be a message which sticks with these kids throughout their life. Already some kids have
formed ideas about their federal and city governments, already kids have begun to understand the latency of
bureaucracy and the involved process which it takes to make a difference within a community. The government isn’t
going anywhere anytime soon and these kids have just begun their lives, for the efficient and effective operation of
government there needs to be communication between the governing and the governed. If the city creates a bike park
or bike skills area at either or both Sinsheimer and Laguna Lake park they will have demonstrated the establishment of
meaningful communication with the city's citizens. It will reaffirm the faith of a younger generation in the effectiveness
of local government and most importantly it will reaffirm the faith of the younger generation in the communication
between government officials and local residents. Teenagers present a unique opportunity to local governments, they
are old enough to understand, participate and formulate their own ideas about government but there are not so old
that these ideas have been set in stone and remain unchangeable. Teenagers ideas about government can be
developed, reshaped or reformed into whatever reality which you make for them. I would suggest making this
impression while you can while their still teenagers don’t wait so long to start construction of this bike skills areas that
by the the time of it’s completion they have left town and never get to see the fruits of their labor, make an impression
now while you still can to reaffirm the younger generations faith in the communication and effectiveness of their own
government and you will have helped build a new generation of communicative governmental allies and created a space
for recreation, creativity and philanthropy.
Sincerely,
Tate Isaacs
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