Edmonton conservationist group raises ecological concern about River Valley Bike Park

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    Edmonton mountain bikers will soon have the city’s first bike park, but as our Leo Cruzat reports, one conservation group raises concerns about its ecological impact.

    Part of Edmonton’s Queen Elizabeth Park near Walterdale Bridge will soon be the city’s first mountain bike park, as it’s getting the official green light from city hall after years of planning.

    What Edmontonians can expect is more trails and a course.

    The Edmonton Mountain Biking Alliance is celebrating as they can now apply for development permits, saying the new park will meet the growing demand of mountain bikers in Edmonton who are looking for safer trails.

    “This is going to provide that, it’s going to make it so kids aren’t building stuff out of pallets in an inappropriate location. Instead, they’re going to come here, or we’re going to have professionally built really great jumps, drops, and all kinds of exciting features,” said Jesse Soneff, with the Edmonton Mountain Biking Alliance.

    Members of the Edmonton Mountain Biking Alliance. (Photo Credit: Leo Cruzat, CityNews)

    The project received an estimated $1.2 million through provincial, municipal, and private contributions.

    But the project is getting pushback from conservationist groups, saying that the River Valley is considered a wildlife corridor and they fear an ecological impact.

    “I mean, we’re also concerned about the loss of habitat. We’re concerned about the cutting of trees. We’re concerned that this project extends down to 20 metres from the water’s edge … we certainly shouldn’t be destroying the River Valley. We need to be protecting it,” said Kristine Kowalchuk, the president of the Edmonton River Valley Conservation Coalition.

    The group building the park says renderings show a lot of brown space, that are incomplete, saying they will keep as many trees as possible.

    Edmonton’s Queen Elizabeth Park. (Photo Credit: Leo Cruzat, CityNews)

    Soneff says they are willing to speak with those who have concerns about the environmental impact.

    “Whether or not any of the park is being used as a wildlife corridor, even if there are some minor things that we can do. I’m actually meeting with someone from the opposition of our project later today to make sure that we’re mitigating as many wildlife-related concerns as possible,” said Soneff.

    Kowalchuk adds, “We’re going to keep our eyes on it very closely. We had some concerns about how the EIA interpreted the migratory bird act, for example, so we’re going to be keeping an eye on how nesting cavities are treated.”

    With the funding that they’ve received, Edmonton Mountain Biking Alliance says the construction is set to start in 2025.

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