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BMX group to help with bike track

October 28th, 2011 | Add a Comment

Discussion includes establishing Rock Hill velodrome as center for aspiring Olympians

By Nicole E. Smith – nsmith@heraldonline.com

The American Bicycle Association will help Rick develop its BMX/Supercross track at the future Rock Hill Outdoor Center.

The City Council approved Monday an agreement with the association, the national sanctioning body for the sport of BMX.

The agreement designates the association will help design, build, and manage the BMX/Supercross track, which is tentatively set to open next summer. The association will also guarantee one national event at the center each year for five years, the length of the agreement.

The agreement also mentions working with USA Cycling to potentially designate the track as an eastern home to the Junior Development Program, which holds camps for aspiring Olympic athletes.

John Taylor, operations supervisor for the city’s Parks, Recreation and Tourism department, said, “We’re looking forward to what they will be able to do for us.”

The BMX/Supercross track is also sponsored by Presbyterian Healthcare, which agreed to pay $150,000 over the next seven years for naming rights. The system also agreed to be the exclusive health care provider for all events at the track at no cost to the city.

The BMX track will be part of the larger, $4 million-Rock Hill Outdoor Center, which will feature 250 acres of trails, a mountain bike course and the Giordana velodrome, a oval with 40-degree banked track.

Taylor estimated that once the center is operating it will generate $4 million in economic impact each year.

According to the agreement the city will receive a conceptual design for the track within 30 days.