To the Councillors of Bayside City Council,

My name is Nathan, I am 12 years old, and I am a local resident who loves mountain biking. I am writing this petition to respectfully request the construction of a pump track at Elsternwick Park.

A pump track would be an amazing addition to our community. It would give kids, teenagers, and even adults a safe and fun place to practice their skills on Mountain/BMX bikes and even scooters. Right now, there are no dedicated places nearby where we can practice riding skills in a safe environment, and many riders end up using unsuitable areas, like a skate park, which can result in injuries due to the track being hard and not what mountain bikers like me or even pump track users are used to, or they dig up council property to build their own.

Building a pump track would:

1. Encourage young people to be active and spend more time outdoors and less on tech
2. Improve physical and mental health in the community
3. Provide a safe, purpose-built space for riders of all skill levels
4. Bring families and friends together in a positive environment
5. Help develop bike-handling skills and confidence
6. Elsternwick Park is a great location because it is already a popular space for recreation and has enough room to include a well-designed track without disturbing other users.

There used to be a pump track in Elsternwick Park in the 1990s but it was demolished and there was another pump track which was built by locals in the Yalukit Willam Nature Reserve before its development which was also recently demolished. This pump track was very heavily used, especially during COVID, showing that people really want it in their local area.

A modern pump track is low-maintenance, safe, and designed to suit a wide range of users. It would be a long-term investment in the health, wellbeing, and recreation of the Bayside community.

I believe this project would benefit many people in the Bayside area and beyond, not just riders but the wider community as well. I kindly ask the Council to consider this proposal and explore the possibility of making it happen.

Thank you for taking the time to read this petition.

Sincerely,
Nathan 
On behalf of local riders and community members