A group of Lakewood residents is taking issue with the Foothills Park and Recreation District concerning a future BMX track near the intersection of Kipling Parkway and Hampden Avenue.
The proposed track would be next to baseball fields and a roller hockey rink.
“We don’t have answers to anything,” said resident Chris Holodny, serving as an unofficial spokesman for a group of neighbors.
Holodny and about 20 neighbors flooded the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners meeting Feb. 3.
However, the land is owned by Foothills Park and Recreation and is already properly zoned for the BMX track at 3606 S. Independence St. The only matter the county has a say in is the approval of a grading permit, requested by the nonprofit group Mile High BMX, which will run the track.
Foothills Park and Recreation director of parks, planning and construction Colin Insley said the district has done outreach about the site, but it seems some residents missed the message.
“We’re more than happy to be available for the group or to meet with them — we can definitely make that happen,” Insley said.
The residents expressed concerns over parking at the site, lights and the potential for grandstands that would block views. The nearest homes are approximately 100 yards from where the track would be.
Insley said that the lights and grandstands are not part of the initial plans and Mile High BMX or Foothills would have to go back to the county to get approval for a large light installation or grandstands.
The site has more than 400 parking spaces, however, Holodny said a small lot with about 40 spaces is closest to the BMX site, with about half of those handicapped spaces. Parking on the street in the neighborhoods would be closer than parking in the larger parking lot, according to Holodny.
“We have a large community and a beautiful and quaint street,” he said.
Holodny added that he has a meeting set up with Jeffco Planning and Zoning and hopes to meet with Foothills staff prior to the Feb. 24 board meeting.
Foothills Park and Recreation District executive director Ron Hopp said he thinks the BMX track would be a great addition to the land and that he hopes construction can start as early as this spring if the grading permit is approved.
He also hopes to help ease the concerns of residents in any way possible.
He added: “Typically what we have found is that once we’ve sat down to address concerns, for the most part, people are satisfied.”
Joe Vaccarelli: 303-954-2396, jvaccarelli@denverpost.com or twitter.com/joe_vacc