Time to ride! New Recreation area for off road enthusiasts a possibility by this time next year

A new recreation area is being considered for an area
tucked in behind RONA and transiting towards the CBSA yard

A new recreation option for those with dirt bikes, quads and Trail bikes is in the concept phase with a plan for a new track and mud bog under study for an area along the southern side of George Hills Way.

Plans would see the development of two elements for the recreation area, the first is a long running circuit track along the circumference of the proposed site which is located just east of the slough at Cow Bay.

Running to the east of what will one day be the Third Avenue Connector Road and a parking lot for the Cow Bay and Marina Districts, the area to be developed is along where the former fuel tanks were placed in the area of the city that was once the focus for the fishing industry.

Included in the proposal is a small grandstand area to allow for weekend competitions and the prospect of attraction out of town competitors to events to be held at what is tentatively to be called the Rupert Bogs. A destination for outdoor adventurers looking for something just a bit different.

Loads of Muskeg will be harvested from city property around the community, serving to clear those areas for potential housing while making for the second key feature of the project, which will be a huge Mud Bog to be located in the middle of the off road racing trail that will transit around it. The Bog circuit will feature a track that criss crosses the length of the muddy infield.

Area along George Hills Way that is under
consideration for the Rupert Bogs

Funding for the project will come out of both community donations and civic contribution, which could dictate to some fashion how fast the project moves forward. The use of public land and the repurposing of the infamous Rupert Muskeg will work towards lowering costs of development and make for the Civic portion of the program.

Of note for the Bog area, will be a channel that leads to the slough by Cowpuccinos that will funnel water to the Bog through a canal that feeds the area during High Tides from Prince Rupert Harbour. That process is designed to keep the Bog sufficiently muddy to make the transit of the many berms, dips and sharp turns a most messy experience.

Once complete, there will be a schedule created that will designate which days that different users can make use of the site. Early indications suggest that the cycling enthusiasts will be able to put their bikes to the test on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. With Dirt Bike riders and Quad owners getting access to the site on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

Leading up to the development of the site will be a need for some extensive research of other track sites in a range of communities. The focus is to take the best ideas from afar and to tweak them a bit to reflect some of the unique elements of the Prince Rupert Rainforest and our climate.

Site prep is planned for later this year, following the creation of a Society to administer the location during the Weekend events. The actual work of creating the Rupert Bogs could start this fall, it's hoped to have the new attraction for the community up and running one year from today.