A bike skills park being created in the Ashburton Domain will help teach youngsters and adults new to cycling and the town about give way signs and stop signs, and how to navigate safely around urban streets.

The park is a project involving Safer Mid Canterbury, local service clubs and Council, and an initial concept design is expected early next year.

Safe Communities co-ordinator for Safer Mid Canterbury Lesley Symington said the three organisations met recently with landscape architects Botanic and talked through their aims for the bike skills park.

“It was a terrific first workshop with lots of engaging discussion and we all put our thoughts and ideas on the table. We also walked over the domain site together and that revealed new opportunities to explore.”

The architects should have a preliminary concept design by mid-January and the design will then be used to seek feedback from the community and young people.

Mrs Symington said the cost of the initial concept design was being funded by local Rotary clubs, with money to build the facility expected to come from funders like the Lion Foundation and Lottery grants funding, as well in-kind donation of materials.

The existing pump track at the domain will be incorporated into the concept design, and an information panel at the entrance will explain how the skills park works.

Early ideas include a street circuit, which would include traffic features like a four-way stop intersection, a give way intersection, roundabout, railway crossing, traffic lights and pedestrian crossing. It would be educational for users of all ages and stages.

Sections of the park could also be two-way, with potential for a solar-powered speed tracker.

A separate woodland trail of compacted gravel was also suggested.

Council’s Infrastructure and Open Spaces Group Manager Neil McCann said the community groups were working together to bring the bike skills park to life and Council was contributing land at the domain and maintenance once it was completed.

“Bike skills parks are becoming increasingly popular as play and recreation assets throughout the country, and are a great space for young and/or new riders to learn the basics of road rules in a safe environment.”

The Ashburton Domain was the preferred site because of its central location, nearby carparking and proximity to other facilities, like public toilets.