A Pineville couple is happy they took some adventuresome action to make sure a new bike park has a good location.
Gayla Elliff Slish and her husband, Jeff, took the leap and donated land to create a perfectly placed amenity for local residents to enjoy.
When the new bike park opens Saturday, July 8, the two will be able to see smiles on youngsters' faces as they ride their bikes or skate.
Officials, community leaders and residents will celebrate with a dedication at 10 a.m. Saturday. The new bike park is located off Big Sugar Creek Road, Pineville. The dedication, which will feature food and prizes, is open to the public.
Those involved in the project say the bike park has taken some time to plan properly. When the bike park idea started to take root, bike park designer John Hunter came to Pineville and proposed the idea for the design. The Pineville City Council then began to toss around different ideas for the bike park's location.
Jeff Slish, who served as an alderman at the time, was one of several council members who initially discussed placing the new bike park on land by the fire station; however, that location had problems with access and other issues. Slish went home and broached the subject with his wife.
After talking about it, the two decided to donate a chunk of land, from her family's farm, for the bike park.
"It's adjacent to Sugar Island. Her dad started that and ran that for years and years," Jeff Slish said.
The one and a half acres are a perfect location to bring children and families together for fun and exercise.
Once the project reached a point for approval, the City Council got on board, with Slish abstaining. As the project unfolded, the Slishes moved their fence on the land to provide right of way. Neighbors Mark and Barbie Anderson also agreed to join the effort, since some of their land would be impacted.
Jeff Slish said he thinks the new bike park will be a good way of connecting Pineville residents with the northwest Arkansas bike trail system.
The bike and walking path will be great for exercise. Kids and others will be able to skate and bike, he said.
"I think it will be really neat," he said.
For Marcy Camacho, the new bike park certainly is a "big win" for the community.
Camacho, who backed the "health and wellness initiative project," said the work actually began in March 2010.
Interest that year began to build when organizers kicked off the first 5k race for the area. The community, local merchants, national brands, neighbors and volunteers supported the idea, she said.
From there, successful awareness in building 5k run/walks increased interest in exercising outdoors.
"More people are out running, walking and riding their bikes, using roads to train and exercise," Camacho said. "This is a dangerous way to exercise. We knew this is an easy fix -- we need a trail system for walkers, cyclists and runners."
In 2011, trail experts Progressive Trail Design was brought in to organize a plan for Pineville.
Two years later, the city moved forward by implementing "Share the Road" signs.
"This was a great first step to let drivers know that we use our roads to exercise until our safe trail systems are in place," she said.
In 2016, Camacho reconnected with a friend from high school, John Hunter, who is building "Bicycle Playgrounds for Kids" all over the world.
"We have so many shared interests for wellness and community. We instantly were on a roll chatting about what we could do together in Pineville," she said.
Soon thereafter, the two pitched the plan for the "Bicycle Playground for Kids" to the City Council in July 2016, then held an exploratory meeting at the Community Center.
"We wanted the community to see what an asset this would be for our kiddos and how it encourages kids' comfort levels on bikes at a much younger age," Camacho said. "Cycling is a lifetime sport and the community response has been amazing and incredibly supportive. "
While the trail plans are still in the works, the bicycle playground is now a reality.
"The Bicycle Playground for Kids is in a park-like area and we looked at it as a big win to get something done that the community could start enjoying right away," she said.
"We know that trail systems don't happen overnight and realize that these things take time," she said. "Pineville is ready for what's next."
General News on 07/06/2017