3-24-08 SAND ISLAND OFF HIGHWAY VEHICLE PARK NEWS IN THE STAR BULLETIN ON LINE

Vol. 13, Issue 80 - Thursday, March 20, 2008

Kokua Line

June Watanabe

Permitting process has delayed off-road track

Question: A year ago there were stories about a racetrack to be built on Sand Island and open by July 2007. I haven't seen anything about it since. When might it open?

Answer: The state official overseeing the project -- a partnership between the state Department of Land and Natural Resources and the nonprofit Sand Island Off-Highway Vehicle Association -- is "cautiously optimistic" that the Sand Island Off-Highway Vehicle Park will open this summer.

That's a year later than projected last spring, after approval was granted for DLNR to lease an unused 30-acre parcel of state park land, adjacent to Sand Island State Park, to the association.

However, unexpected "snags" -- requirements for a city "grubbing-and-grading" permit and a permit from the state Department of Health required under the federal Clean Water Act -- have not only delayed the project, but also driven up costs, said Curt Cottrell, DLNR's Na Ala Hele Trails and Access manager.

The city permit also required producing an engineering topography map.

Cottrell tried to do everything "in-house" but eventually hired a consultant because of the complicated permit processes.

He has $30,000 in federal grants for the project, but has so far had to spend about $14,000 to obtain the permits and topography map.

That leaves about $16,000 for volunteers from the nonprofit association to use for equipment rental and fuel to actually put in the trails and tracks once the permits are obtained.

Cottrell's hoping the get the city permit "shortly." DLNR already completed an environmental assessment and got a waiver on a Special Management Area permit because the project is in a state park, he said.

Also still to come is the Health Department permit, required to make sure there are adequate sediment control barriers to prevent runoff into the water.

"What's really taking us a long time is our lack of experience ever doing this," Cottrell acknowledged.

When the project is completed, about 18 of the 30 acres will be developed for "actual ridable space" for motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, peewee motorcycles for children, a BMX area for bicycles and a "truck-challenge area."

The Sand Island Off-Highway Vehicle Association's initial no-cost lease to run and maintain the area will be for two years.

"It really is an out-of-the-box creative solution to trying to find ridable space on Oahu for ATVs (and other off-highway vehicles), which is the fastest-growing recreational activity in the United States," Cottrell said.

The Kahuku Motocross Park is the only other authorized off-road track on state land on Oahu.

DLNR "is trying to redirect, with what limited chunks of usable state land that this is appropriate for," to authorized sites, Cottrell said.

He hopes the private sector will recognize the opportunity to step in and address the growing demand for such recreational activity.

12-19-07 SAND ISLAND OFF HIGHWAY VEHICLE PARK INITIAL GROUNDS PREPARATION UNDER WAY! WELL, NOT SO FAST!

At this time of the year, we expected to be into the final preparations for our Grand Opening at the new year. Well, not so fast. After an initial very fast paced start, things abruptly came to a halt. We expect to release the details soon, but feel constrained until the last roadblocks are understood and removed. Do we feel confident that this will be the last roadblock? No. At this point, we don't have supreme confidence that something else won't pop up. This has been an agonizing couple years process. Please be patient while we work things out with State Parks, our partner in this endeavor. I promise we'll get the word out about the specifics when the time is right.

08-06-07 SAND ISLAND OFF HIGHWAY VEHICLE PARK INITIAL GROUNDS PREPARATION UNDER WAY!

Initial surface preparation is well underway out at Sand Island State Park. Thanks for all the volunteers that have volunteered their precious time to help us with this project. At this point, our all volunteer force has done the initial clearing for the first few sports tracks as well as the parking lots and administration and picnic areas. The designated BMX area has changed to the area adjacent to the "administrative mound" just as you turn into the park off of Sand Island Road. The BMX track is ready to build once the park infrastructure is in. Check out the photo below;

04-27-07 SAND ISLAND OFF HIGHWAY VEHICLE PARK EA PUBLISHED ON 25 APR!

The Environmental Assesment (EA) for the SAND BOX, the OHV park out at Sand Island State Park, was published and is open for public comment for the next 30 days. This has been a couple years in the works and towards the final elements required prior to breaking ground for our new BMX track which is included in the SAND BOX.

04-24-07 SOIL SAMPLES COMPLETED AT SAND ISLAND AND SUBMITTED TO THE STATE.

Soil samples were taken of the proposed area where we plan to build the OHV Park out at Sand Island State Park, which includes our BMX track. This process took much longer than expected, but is now included in the EA that has finally reached final form and is being circulated in different State departments. All samples came in below reportable levels of contamination. That means we're good to go for the next stage. Still not open for public comment yet, but we should hear very soon. Again, very slow trudging, but we expect to break ground within months this year - hopefull before summers end. After the public comment period, all we'll need is the lease from the State. That document is in draft form now. Hang in there!

11-04-06 ABA Streams Live Video at ABABMX.COM for FREE. Check it out Thanksgiving Weekend!

The State Department of Planning and Permitting (DPP) has approved a Special Management Area (SMA) request to build the complex out at Sand Island (See 18 Oct news item). Next on the agenda will be an Environmental Assesment (EA) which will include a 30 day public comment period. Right now a rough estimate to meet the Sate Land Board for a lease after the EA process is complete is around 90 days. Slow but steady progress - we are getting there!

Free Live-Streaming Coverage of the ABA "Fall Nationals" from Albuquerque, New Mexico

Gilbert, Arizona—October 31, 2006— The ABA (American Bicycle Association) once again provided free live-streaming coverage of the 25th national event on its 2006 BMX (Bicycle Motocross ) racing series. The ABA has previously provided an audio feed of its national events for fans and racers to get real-time coverage of its national BMX races. After live streaming video for the "Blackjack Nationals", adding the live streaming-video coverage for the ABA BMX Fall Nationals is once again a first for BMX and unprecedented for the sport!

The action didn't stop on race day; the Albuquerque, New Mexico race event can be viewed around-the-clock for "FREE" at the ABA website (www.ababmx.com). This continuous video feed will allow schools, libraries, bike shops and anyone interested in BMX to view national-level racing from their computer by clicking the link on the ABA Homepage.

Also, ABA BMX will be have live steaming video of the ABA BMX Grands week coming up on November 24th-26th. ABA BMX will feature the ABA Race of Champions, The Friday Night ABA PRO Spectacular/N.A.G. 5 Challenge, and the 2006 ABA Grand Nationals. Look for more info on these events real soon!

The picture below is a link to the layout of the Sand Island Off Highway Vehicle Park Complex, which includes our new BMX Track. If you want to examine the drawing up close, select the picture for a much larger picture in a new page.

After many months of work with the State and other local groups, there is finally potential for a new BMX track to race on! Our best guess at this point is that it will open up next year out on Sand Island. We are very fortunate to be working with other groups on a joint project to open an off highway vehicle area in currently undeveloped land of the Sand Island State Park. A BMX racing track is part of the vision that includes supercross motorcycles, a pee wee motorcycle trail, 4X4's and ATV's. Plans are not final on how this will all fit into the allocated space, but we'll get the word out as soon as we get it. If all goes as envisioned, there is potential that we'll begin work on the supporting structures before the end of this year.