Agenda Item # 11.1 - Kelly Ogier | Received 09/12/2022CAUTION: This email originated from an External Source. Please use proper judgment and caution when opening
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From:KELLY BOYER
To:City Clerk
Subject:EXTERNAL - Adventure Park
Date:Monday, September 12, 2022 8:48:47 AM
To the Gilroy City Council,
As a Gilroy resident and outdoor enthusiast I am writing today to support the proposed Adventure Park in Gilroy. I
am involved with mountain biking advocacy groups such as Girls Rock Mountain Biking Organization, IMBA,
Mountain Bikers of Santa Cruz (MBoSC) and the Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship (in various volunteer capacities
such as serving as director of fundraising and events, trail building, and advocacy).
Currently, there are very few opportunities in Gilroy for biking and this would be the first bike park of its kind in the
greater Bay Area. This proposed park would provide an experience that now requires California mountain bikers to
travel as far away as Tahoe, Mammoth, or Shasta. If Gilroy takes the reigns on this it will be in a very strong
position to capitalize on revenues generated on such a monumental project. Furthermore, this project will support
several key goals in the Gilroy 2020-2021 Strategic Plan which will provide economic as well as recreational
benefits to the community.
While Gilroy coordinates efforts with local and regional economic interests you will be pursuing a new diverse
business opportunity (Both outlined as goals in the Gilroy 2020-2021Strategic Plan sections 4.5 and 4.6). Our
local bike shops, restaurants, coffee shops, gas stations, hotels, grocery stores and retail shops all stand to benefit
from this proposal not to mention the local residents that could be employed by the Adventure Park (sections 3.3
and 3.4 of the Gilroy Strategic Plan). This area is home to significant driving forces in the bike industry; companies
like Specialized Bicycles and Kali Helmets (both headquartered in nearby Morgan Hill), as well as numerous major
mountain bike and component companies in nearby Santa Cruz, Scotts Valley and Aptos areas - e.g. Santa Cruz
Bicycles, Ibis Bicycles, Fox, Bell/Giro, Praxxis Works - just to name a few. Building this Adventure Park supports
these businesses as well as local small businesses. During the pandemic the bike industry is one of the very few
industries to actually thrive rather than collapse, evidence this industry is a smart choice to back. Trails lure people
to destinations and clearly leads them to spend money in those destinations. While generating revenue is of great
importance so is the benefit our community will receive as a result of supporting this Adventure Bike Park
Proposal.
I have followed (and seen firsthand) the growth in popularity, as well as, the impact of mountain biking on
communities and people. Biking provides a very healthy, fun and challenging activity for people young and old and
of various socio-economic backgrounds. It takes down barriers and brings people together. Residents will build
meaningful social bridges across differences in age, race, ethnicity, class, and culture and I know the Gilroy City
Council strives to ensure that its initiatives benefit all demographic groups and this proposal does just that! Mental
Health is a topic very dear to our hearts especially after this past year. Exercise is an obvious benefit of mountain
biking but the connection between mountain biking and positive mental health is quickly gaining visibility. Mountain
Bike Rider author Benjamin Haworth writes, "Exercise that releases endorphins is proven to stave off
depression.” Mountain biking releases endorphins which in turn reduces stress and anxiety allowing for what
some call “Ecotherapy” an emerging treatment for mental health issues. Red Bull author Natalie Fraser outlines
numerous mental health benefits in her article, and #6 is community, "Even with the work to remove the stigma of
mental health, it can still be a lonely and scary place, so having a good support network of family and friends is
invaluable." (http://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.redbull.com/gb-en/mtb-and-mental-fitness) mountain biking and
outdoor recreation offers a community of friends that centers around a positive, healthy sport. Riding is an
excellent opportunity to create meaningful relationships and constantly requires you to adapt to change and cope
with challenges. Mountain biking provides a way to maintain both our physical and mental health as well as create
meaningful relationships with others. Our residents will benefit equally from this proposal because there are
opportunities for various levels of activity provided by this plan.
I support the Adventure Park in Gilroy because it will be a positive project in the region for people that bike, hike,
and enjoy the outdoors. It will provide a benefit to our local community and attract tourism to the city. The park
would be an amazing resource for the local high school mountain bike team, mountain bike enthusiasts, new
riders, hikers, and those who enjoy emerging trends in recreation. There is not another project like this in the
region. Gilroy is a bicycle friendly community and the Gilroy Adventure Park supports the 2018 Tourism in the
Hecker Pass Corridor Resolution. Approving this proposal would give Gilroy a key advantage over other cities.
Mountain Biking is an integral part of the culture of the Bay Area and extremely lucrative and engaging to the
communities that support it.
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Kelly Ogier
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