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<br /> ;ERVING NORTH SUBURBAN COMMUNITIES SUNDAY, JUNE 25, 2000
<br /> SPOTLIGHT : SHOREVIEW , N SAINT PAUL PIONEER PRESS '15 Dirt
<br /> .
<br /> •Dishin ' rt
<br /> _ -- _ _ ___ _.
<br /> _- ... .._________
<br /> Is Is flying, but
<br /> Jordin Filas said
<br /> ..... .. ...: ..
<br /> riding at the
<br /> John Rose Oval
<br /> •" ' .. Skate Park in
<br /> Roseville is a
<br /> distant second
<br /> to his e
<br /> ,�, s
<br /> ' :a f! biking. Jordin,
<br /> practicing a
<br /> jump here, and
<br /> Tom Barrett
<br /> ... 4
<br /> "
<br /> were the
<br /> A
<br /> masterminds
<br /> -�' behind a BMX
<br /> course in
<br /> '' in this summer.
<br /> Shoreview going
<br /> c - w
<br /> /,
<br /> by
<br /> n ..
<br /> w£
<br /> � "xF
<br /> 1-,
<br /> s. f i . .;
<br /> JOE ROSSI/PIONEER PRESS
<br /> Dirt bikers are a lonely bunch. Dirt bikers some-
<br /> i times gather at
<br /> Routinely chased off private and public the skate park in
<br /> ,' Roseville as a
<br /> substitute for
<br /> lands, they're young riders whose bikes 'If ':. ' dirt courses.
<br /> From left, Jason
<br /> are viewed with suspicion. But two Fox, Tom Barrett
<br /> 4 and Jordin Filas
<br /> bikers from Shoreview worked with the .- t' ' take a break
<br /> f ^r I from their riding.
<br /> establishment and successfully , '
<br /> petitioned the City Councilor space of `� t
<br /> their own. The temporary BMX park ! s } ,'
<br /> will open this summer.
<br /> J ordin Filas and Thomas Barrett a solution they thought would suit Dirt bike track Hiring an attendant would require DETAILS
<br /> are neighborhood chums bonded by everyone. They asked for a desig- the city to start charging an
<br /> a common interest. nated place to dirt bike. City Council has approved construction admission fee. The temporary
<br /> The friends only have to travel The two spoke before the City Shoreview a temporary dirt bike track at the While the bike course will be BMX course will
<br /> Y P Y Shoreview Community Center. be built on a
<br /> within a three-block radius to Council and gathered 80 signatures P.. ' temporary, Filas said it's better
<br /> ( hockey rink at
<br /> gather two more friends for a from Shoreview residents on a • ,-w. .. than what he'd hoped for He said the Shoreview
<br /> daily BMX or freestyle bicycle petition supporting a bike course. .....::. 1 his friends should no longer have
<br /> Community
<br /> expedition. But to find a safe We didn't think it would work, N: to worry about finding a dirt Center. The
<br /> haven for dirt biking, the youth but we did it anyway," Barrett :'.. .'. '(% '. course they can bike on.
<br /> have found they said Usually, Filas said, bikers will build
<br /> :'.. the the course
<br /> have to travel a BY NANCY `°LL"" ` `": ""'"--- O
<br /> So they were surprised when the makeshift jumps he and his friends
<br /> o themselves,
<br /> little farther. NGO City Council agreed to allow a z'., a; build are plowed over in a short
<br /> period of time. using dirt from
<br /> While they see temporary BMX bicycle course on i c F,, P other city
<br /> u.lt m;
<br /> their hobby as STAFF its hockey rink as an experiment. 01 ,.: ;:; The friends have tried other
<br /> harmless fun, they WRITER But unlike the skating park that 9 Lake S 1 x`` ' options such as biking on the projects.
<br /> often clash with opened at the community center I street or at the John Rose Oval
<br /> residents who consider bikers rid- last year, the city will not have to 1..:.0._'"--"" -,:. P. Dirt bike ramps in Roseville, but it is
<br /> bike n Rosev
<br /> ing near. or on their property a solicit bids to construct a bike course •\ not the same as using a dirt track.
<br /> nuisance. course. ':l "I like to dirt jump, but we don't
<br /> ,„-- CO. r„ " Filas said.
<br /> In Shoreview, there s nowhere Rather than building any equip- �__,�_---__._� . : �;..: a°.� get to do it often,
<br /> that you can bike without someone ment, excess dirt from the city 1 St.Paul .I 1 la` : \ Filas' mother, Ranee Kohner,
<br /> saying you're on private property will be hauled into the rink. Volun- -' "°" 5s . .-., .::,:�<-."°°"°``"a sees dirt biking as a healthy outlet
<br /> or you can't be here," Barrett said. teers, including Filas and Barrett, I PIONEER PRESS and would like to see her son con-
<br /> Last year, they were threatened will bring shovels and design the tinue the sport.
<br /> with vandalism charges for biking jumps, which are to be no more who might use the Shoreview Corn- "I think there's a lot of worse
<br /> in Ramsey County open space. than 3 feet tall for safety and lia- munity Center will not come with- things kids can be doing," she said.
<br /> These clashes have inspired the bility reasons. out a cost, however.
<br /> friends to seek an alternative. Shoreview Mayor Sandy Martin The city is looking to hire an Nancy Ngo,who covers north suburban
<br /> A few months ago, Filas and said the bike rink should be ready attendant for the skating park, communities,can be reached at
<br /> Barrett wrote a letter to the by the middle of summer. - whic eady has had problems nngo@ploneerpress.com or(651)481-
<br /> Shorevi ity Council suggesting Increasing the number of youth with WA smoking and vandalism. 0433. • ..
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