La Ronge council wore orange May 31 to honour victims and survivors of residential schools. (screenshot)

By Derek Cornet

recreation

Hundreds of Air Ronge, La Ronge residents support dirt bike track construction

Jun 2, 2021 | 5:20 PM

Hundreds of residents from Air Ronge and La Ronge have signed a petition to support the construction of a dirt bike track in one of those municipalities.

The petition was launched by Air Ronge resident Tyler Quandt and more than 400 signatures were collected during a two-week period in April. The purpose of the dirt bike track would be to provide a safe venue for children to ride and to keep them off the streets, said Tyler’s grandmother, Pauline Quandt.

“We should have a place for them to go,” she said. “People don’t like bikes around town, running around in front of their houses. They really have no place to go and play.”

Pauline mentioned there have been instances of cables being place across paths, which have subsequently caused injuries. Tyler experienced a neck injury last summer after he hit a cable while riding his bike.

“I kind of worry about it with these kids going on the trails,” said Pauline. “They went on a couple trails before and found ropes and stuff like that tied up across the trails. I didn’t like that. If we can give them a place where they can go and play, it would be nice.”

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The petition was discussed May 31 at a regular town council meeting, where a motion was passed to accept the petition. Council did have questions about who would fund such a project, but they were willing to support the idea of such a project.

“I support this from the standpoint that I ride a dirt bike and I want to see the kids ripping around somewhere fun and safe,” Coun. Abby Besharah said at the meeting. “But, with how much we are investing in our recreation services and amenities in the next year, I don’t think we have the capacity to consider this.”

Pauline explained she will be in contact with town administration about council’s decision and what it means moving forward. She noted she’s willing to fundraise, but doesn’t know how much such a project would cost or how much land the town would be willing to allocate for it.

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @saskjourno