Southeast : PLANNING A TRACK

Long Beach officials are working with residents to create a five- to eight-acre BMX bicycle race track at El Dorado Park.

The plans are still preliminary, but proponents hope to form a nonprofit organization to raise money for the project.

Under the plan, the track would be built over a grassy area just north of Wardlow Road along the San Gabriel River. The nonprofit group would lease the site from the city and operate the track. While the area would be open to the public, racing on the track would be open only to dues-paying members of a local BMX organization.

“It’s another opportunity to keep kids busy doing something positive and healthy,” said Long Beach resident Genevieve Douglass, whose son, Daniel, races BMX bicycles.

So far, the city’s Recreation Commission has approved negotiations between the city and track proponents for the plan.

“Part of our concern is making sure it is visually attractive,” said Long Beach official Phil Hester.

Bob Lamond, treasurer of the Sierra Club’s Long Beach organization, wrote about the plan in the group’s newsletter because he is concerned about the loss of open space in the park.

“I think open space has some value,” he said. “You don’t have to fill it up to make it valuable.”