Multi-use BMX park back on table for city

Tomball City Council received a proposal at its July 1 meeting for an Olympic-level, multi-use BMX park to be constructed at the corner of Ulrich and Hufsmith roads.

The proposal was made by Mike McIntyre, an architect and BMX advocate who has helped design parks for the nonprofit USA BMX, and John Purse, a professional BMX rider and former national champion who lives in Tomball. Purse said he wanted to gauge how much interest there was in the park among city officials. Many of the details on where it could be located and what it could consist of are up for discussion, he said.

"None of these plans are final," he said. "We are just proposing the idea of a Tomball BMX and fitness park."

Several council members said they were interested in hearing more about the park but thought the location identified was not ideal because of its proximity to residences. McIntyre said he was open to considering different locations.

McIntyre is asking the city to donate the land for the park, but the city is not being asked to put any money into its development. The city's investment through donating land would help with the acquisition of grant funding from organizations like USA BMX, McIntyre said.

"The most success we've had with fundraising is when we can demonstrate that the city is a partner with us," he said.

McIntyre said around four acres of the proposed 14-acre multi-use park would be used for the BMX track. The rest would be for a possible dog park, playground, fitness center and other features the city can choose to develop. The return on the city's investment would come through tourism and money spent at gas stations, restaurants and hotels, McIntyre said.

McIntyre was instructed by council to review the city's Parks & Recreation Master Plan and return to council with other locations to consider.