A playground in Lheidli T'enneh Memorial Park

By Tommy Osborne

Mega Park

Mega Park project shutdown leads to BMX track improvements

May 30, 2024 | 3:53 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – The highly anticipated Mega Park project that has been in the works for years met its end, but not in the way many hoped. City Council voted the park down in 2023, and since then the money raised for the Mega Park was available for something else instead. Recently, the Prince George Community Foundation and the Rotary Club of Prince George announced the Prince George BMX Supertrak would be receiving the remainder of the funds for repairs and rebuilds for the track, which was just shy of $77,000.

“The original intention of the Community Foundation and the Prince George Rotary Club downtown was to create and build a mega park for our community, and unfortunately that did not come to fruition. But we are really excited with how these funds are being used to further develop a sport and recreation hub in our community,” said PG Community Foundation Director of Development Mindy Stroet.

Dave Mothus, a community activist who played a big role in organizing potential donors and sponsors for the Mega Park, was quite disappointed with the way the Mega Park was shut down by City Council. He explained City administration’s report on the costs of the park was “obscene,” and feels it didn’t accurately reflect how much the park would cost.

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“City administration wrote a report that basically said the park would have to have a massive annual outlay. They actually budgeted for rebuilding the park in 50 years, and they budgeted for staffing on the park. And I guess if they had talked to us, I would have said, no, we’re not going to build a park big enough that you require staff. No, we do not care if we rebuild the park in 50 years. That’s 50 years in the future. There might be a whole new set of things kids are doing,” Mothus said.

“When council read the report, it was obscene. The amount of money they (administration) claimed that would have to be built to maintain the park, and it was squashed. It just killed it. Council couldn’t vote yes because I wouldn’t either,” he continued.

Mothus explained when he was trying to secure funds for the Mega Park, he had many companies agree to offer massive services for free. He estimates the total value of materials, labour, and monetary donations totalled up to around $2 million dollars. However, since the Mega Park was shut down those offers were no longer available. As for the Community Foundation, it feels the pivot to the BMX track most closely represented the spirit of the original Mega Park project.

“One of the key factors that the committee looked at was something that was closely aligned to the original intent of the Mega Park project. One of the components of that project is the Red bull Certified Pump Track, and this Supertrak BMX track is most closely aligned to that project,” Stroet said.

She added other factors, like the fact that the BMX club doubles in size over the last two years, and the location being in “a recreational hub” also played a considerable role.

“They have racers from two years old to those that are in their 70s. It’s a really great family environment, and they have the potential to train future Olympians right here in Prince George, in Northern British Columbia,” she continued.

As for Mothus, he was hoping the Remax Blackburn Bike Park would see the funds instead, but ultimately is happy with how things played out, despite the sting of losing the Mega Park.

“I’m pleased that they put the money into outdoor events for kids. It wasn’t exactly what I intended, but who’s going to argue, it’s still benefiting kids in this community so I’m glad that it is directly helping children play outside,” Mothus said.

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