Velodrome might be coming to Wentzville
Cycling summit scheduled Saturday
Well, something is coming. But as for what that something is, officials aren't quite sure.
One likely answer is more enthusiasm for cycling. In the past decade, local interest in the sport has skyrocketed. Residents can bike on trails, compete, take lessons and join clubs. Not to mention the 500,000 people who showed up to support competitors in the state's first Tour of Missouri, a portion of which ran through St. Charles County.Now area cycling enthusiasts are pushing to make the region a mecca for the sport of cycling.
That points to another likely answer: teamwork. Those cycling enthusiasts have taken the first step toward their goal by organizing cycling summits involving park directors, representatives from local municipalities and the St. Charles County Local Organizing Committee. The next one is scheduled for Saturday in Wentzville.
But that group already determined a need for cycling in the area, said Ed Watkins, civic leader and co-founder of the LOC. This next gathering will have specific focus.
That points to one more likely answer - and perhaps the most exciting one: a velodrome.
A velodrome is an arena for track cycling. Other than the outdoor velodrome at Penrose Park in St. Louis, the closest velodrome is in Eagle, Idaho.
So far.
If Wentzville Mayor Paul Lambi, Watkins and other supporters have their way, Wentzville would be home to an indoor velodrome in the not-too-distant future. The idea hatched after a successful effort to raise $65,000 for the Tour of Missouri. The sporting arena, priced at about $10 million, could host bike races leading up to the Tour of Missouri or serve as a year-round Olympic training facility, Lambi has said. It also could cater to high school cycling teams, area cycling clubs and families wanting a safe place to bike.
Lambi said plans are in the very early stages but indicated there already is some support, although from whom, he couldn't say.
Watkins, however, seems confident. Consider St. Peters, he said. The city that has swelled to more than 54,000 had little more than 15,000 people when he moved there in 1982. But in 1992, the city began raising money to build the Rec-Plex, now a 230,000-square-foot recreation center with a world-class natatorium and NHL-standard-sized ice rink. City taxpayers approved a $16 million bond issue and Civic Progress, a group of corporate executives, pledged $4.5 million with the provision that $1 million be raised locally. Since the facility opened in 1994, it has hosted regional, national and world-class athletic events.
Watkins sees Wentzville moving down the same path, The city has had an explosion of growth but has an inadequate amount of facilities to meet the recreational needs of its citizens, he said; it's only a matter of time before the community demands more. Consider that and it's safe to say residents could see a velodrome in Wentzville within the next three years.
After all, Watkins said, he has a pretty good track record with these things. He volunteered to help St. Peters raise $1 million for the construction of the Rec-Plex and was a paid consultant during the fundraising for T.R. Hughes Ballpark and Ozzie Smith Sports Complex and Lindenwood University's Hyland Center. In July 2006, the state solicited Watkins to lead an effort to raise $50,000 that would allow for the Tour of Missouri.
When planning for those, he was having the same conversations he now is having about the velodrome, Watkins said.
"You know, yeah. I'd be surprised if it didn't happen," he said.
If so, plenty of people will be involved. Watkins expects about 150 at the summit Saturday. One of those will be Brent Hugh. Hugh is executive director of the Missouri Bicycling Federation, a non-profit organization that advocates cycling access, safety and education. He said last week he thought a Wentzville velodrome would be an unusual regional attraction that would attract high profile events and cycling enthusiasts from many surrounding states.
What's great, Hugh said, is that support for the advancement of cycling is coming from all directions, particularly because of rising gas prices and a growing concern for the climate.
"People are starting to realize we can either replace our light bulb, which they always tell us is equal to saving so many trips in a car, or you can just save trips in your car," he said.
Hugh said making cities bicycle-friendly is an easy, inexpensive solution, and support for that is growing. That includes proposals currently being considered by state legislators, he said.
As for this weekend, Watkins said, organizers hope to begin determining what financial support and land would be necessary for a velodrome.
Also planned is a review of the area's strengths and an update on the Tour of Missouri. Organizers now want to team with officials from the St. Louis area to combine all possible assets, Watkins said.
