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Nanaimo BMX Race Track Redevelopment

The City of Nanaimo has partnered with the Nanaimo BMX Association to redevelop the Marie Davidson BMX Park by constructing a world class BMX race track. Nanaimo BMX has a long tradition in providing an opportunity for riders of all ages and abilities to have a competitive moto to ride in. 

The new facility will feature a new safety barrel start gate, a 5m start hill relocated to the northwest corner of the property as well as an amateur and professional race track. By catering to both professional and amateur athletes, Marie Davidson BMX Park and Nanaimo BMX Association will become one of the top destination race track in North America. 


  • Progress

    Nanaimo BMX Race Track Redevelopment

    October 27, 2023

    The City of Nanaimo is pleased to announce it has secured the services of a professional BMX track builder in Tom Ritz Design (TRD). TRD will construct the track surface from the bottom of the start hill to the finish line at the Marie Davidson BMX Track, located at Beban Park.

    Tom Ritzenthaler has been leading the design and construction of nearly all UCI BMX Super-cross World Cups BMX Tracks and most UCI BMX World Championships since 2001 including both BMX tracks for the 2016 World Championships in Columbia. Tom Ritz Design has designed and constructed BMX tracks for the 2008, 2012, and 2016 Olympic Games. Recent Canadian projects include Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and St. Albert, Alberta.

    Thanks to Nanaimo BMX  and their "Get Behind the Gate" campaign the Pro Start gate was purchased and has arrived in Nanaimo. This milestone could not have been possible without the generous donations and funds raised by the volunteers, members and supporters of Nanaimo BMX. Well done and congratulations to all of you!

    The City of Nanaimo and Nanaimo BMX will be moving onto the next steps in this project with an anticipated construction start date scheduled for the spring of 2024. 

     

  • Documents

    BMX presentation to the Committee of the Whole, Oct 28-2019: https://pub-nanaimo.escribemeetings.com/FileStream.ashx?DocumentId=26925 

    November 4-2019; Regular Council meeting to review and approve the Oct 28 COW recommendation: https://pub-nanaimo.escribemeetings.com/Meeting.aspx?Id=0e504cca-fd8f-4066-bd55-e5b153366a5a&Agenda=Merged&lang=English&Item=42&Tab=attachments

    November 13-2019; Report to the Special Finance and Audit Committee meeting: https://pub-nanaimo.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=27053

    November 18-2019; Regular Council Meeting for Consent items; https://pub-nanaimo.escribemeetings.com/Meeting.aspx?Id=d9ab05e2-d11d-40b7-a5d0-695ead18acb2&Agenda=Merged&lang=English&Item=60&Tab=attachments 

    May 19- 2021 Finance and Audit Committee meeting: https://pub-nanaimo.escribemeetings.com/Meeting.aspx?Id=47e329cb-618c-4e23-9365-88a29447ede7&Agenda=Merged&lang=English&Item=25&Tab=attachments

    June 7-2021 Regular Council Meeting for Consent Items; https://pub-nanaimo.escribemeetings.com/Meeting.aspx?Id=25ca220c-99ed-4ee4-a9bd-6e991825b734&Agenda=Merged&lang=English&Item=30&Tab=attachments  

  • Details
  • Background

    In 1989, the Kinsmen requested permission to convert some of their leased grounds into a BMX track within Beban Park. Permission was granted and the track opened in 1991 on the former logger sports area, which today is known as the Marie Davidson BMX Park. Since 1991, the Nanaimo BMX Association, a non-profit society, has held a lease agreement with the City of Nanaimo and continues to operate and maintain the track and surrounding site. The track is well utilized and open to the public year round except during club practices and race days. The club operates under the umbrella of the BMX Canada sanctioning body and current membership is approximately 350 riders who live in the mid-island area.

    The Nanaimo BMX Association executive committee has always highlighted safety as their top priority for all users of the facility. Many of the components within the track are original and require replacement or remediation to ensure safe operation and function. The association has been working hard to identify these issues and determining a course of action to continue to provide safe, competitive and fun BMX riding for their club and the broader community.

    In April of 2019 the Nanaimo BMX Association met with Parks and Recreation Staff to begin collaboration on a facility redevelopment project of the Marie Davidson BMX Park. Since that time the association has acquired the services of an International consulting firm that specializes in action sport facilities. Action Sports Design LLC and the Nanaimo BMX Association has developed a conceptual design that will meet the current and future needs of the club and Nanaimo citizens.

    The Nanaimo BMX Association is now at a point to solidify a strong partnership with the City of Nanaimo in order to progress the project from conceptual design through to final detailed design. On October 28th, 2019, Nanaimo BMX presented to council at a Committee of the Whole meeting to introduce the club and the vision of this potential infrastructure upgrade project. Following the presentation a motion was supported to have staff provide a report back to council. 


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