We sent out our press release this morning, and are already seeing great write-ups online from The Cleveland Leader, Crain's Cleveland Business, and The Plain Dealer. Hoping to see a printed story in tomorrow's PD, and next week in the Scene -- word's getting 'round!
This blog (not updated since the summer, sheesh) will be showing updates more regularly as news unfolds at a more frequent pace... stay tuned, become a fan of our Facebook page, and if you're hip enough, keep up with our Twitter feed. Look for tasty bicycle quotes up there in the corner of our blog, too!
Here's the text of the press release:
FAST TRACK CYCLING, INC. PLANS
Group contracts to purchase nine-acre site for an indoor multi-use recreational facility
CLEVELAND, January 27, 2010 – Fast Track Cycling, Inc., a Cleveland-based, non-profit 501(c) (3) organization, is pleased to announce that it has entered into a real estate purchase option agreement with the City of
Track cycling is a bicycle racing sport that is featured in the Olympic Games and held on specially built banked tracks or velodromes.
The project will help to revitalize the
A detailed budget and operational projections have been developed. Overall project costs are estimated at $6,500,000. Fast Track is seeking naming rights sponsors, corporate sponsors, foundation grants, federal/state/local grants, and charitable donations from the cycling community.
To date, Fast Track has been funded by a $30,000 grant from Civic Innovation Lab and other donations totaling $7,000 while another $45,000 has been pledged for the capital campaign.
Fast Track is collaborating with Slavic Village Development Corporation and has received positive responses from the Mayor’s Office, members of City Council, and the
Planning Commission. Fast Track plans to work closely with various neighborhood groups including Sokol Greater Cleveland.
“The sale and use of this vacant City Land Bank property for a Sports/Olympic-style cycling training center is a welcomed economic opportunity and major boost for
“Bringing a velodrome and recreational facility to the Broadway/Slavic Village community will not only add an important recreational amenity for residents,” said Ward 5 Councilwoman
“This is a terrific opportunity for
The
The 14-member volunteer Board of Trustees has legal, business and finance, political, non-profit, fundraising, construction, and cycling backgrounds. Four board committees include:
- Site Selection/Acquisition
- Fundraising/Corporate Sponsors
- Governance
- Facilities/Operations.
Project Benefits
- Health & wellness – all abilities, all access, all community
- Youth programming
- Urban redevelopment
- Year-round community, recreational, elite and regional use
- Nationally unique venue to attract and retain young, active adults to
- Appeal to a growing market –
- Ability to host regional, national and international events throughout the year
- Potential training center for Olympic and professional cyclists (road and track)
4 comments:
Yahoo for you all. Great job! I've been following your efforts for a bit here and this is huge. Congrats!
We've just started to push our velodrome concept here in Madison WI. We have a trail ahead of us but thanks to your efforts it's been blazed and we can see it is possible.
Jacob
While the interior design may be about bikes, the outside is a total failure judged by the image you posted. It looks like the surrounding area is maximized for cars, to include a drop off lane that goes right up to the front door!
There is not a bike rack in sight! FAIL!!! Just a lot of concrete! The sidewalks look like standard width, so bikes and pedestrians are sure to be in conflict. Get ride of the drop off lane and put in lots of COVERED and SECURE bike parking and then you can call yourself bike friendly.
Are you near or connecting to any of the cities bike paths or other infrastructure? I would seriously rethink the outside of this building!
Jacob- Thank you for your support and good luck with your efforts! One of our board members visited Madison for the first time in Sept. for the USGP – Planet Bike Cup. He was thrilled and impressed that bicycle transportation maps were available at the visitor’s center.
Tim- The image that is currently posted is an architectural rendering not a final design. Let me assure you that while there are many details that we are in the process of finalizing, there will be plenty of access for both bicycles and pedestrians along with well thought out bicycle parking.
We are VERY exited with the location for the velodrome! The neighborhood has a devoted CDC which promotes active living among their many programs. Here is a map of the Slavic Village which shows their pedestrian, bike, and public transportation routes as well as off-road trails.
The velodrome will also be located beside the Bohemian National Hall home of the Sokol Greater Cleveland unit, which is part of an organization "founded on the philosophy that only physically fit, mentally alert, and cuturally well developed citizens can make a nation strong and give life to the honorable spirit of patriotism."
Hey Tim -- I work with Slavic Village Development, the CDC mentioned in the comment above... we're assisting Fast Track in different ways on this project.
In response to your questions about connecting bike paths (great question, btw): the location of the planned velodrome is actually in a perfect spot for connecting into Cleveland's bike infrastructure. We are planning an extension of the existing Morgana Run Trail (a fabulous Rails-to-Trails project, part of the group's Urban Pathways Initiative)to downtown Cleve; that extension would take you right past the velodrome. Don't worry -- the area has been carefully chosen to plug into many cycling initiatives! I appreciate your concern -- I hope more questions are asked so we can make sure Cleveland gets the best arena possible.
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