The idea being floated around is that of a centralized facility where community members can meet for committee meetings, presentations, socializing, a bike ride, climb, paddle, run, swim, game, etc, and a shower and bite to eat afterwards. To make this successful, partnering with other like minded not-for-profit organizations as well as supporting retail like outdoor gear, a print shop, bar & grill, daycare, etc is critical.

As it turns out, Magnuson Park is ideally suited in time and place for such a venture. Since the former Naval Air Station was ceded to the City of Seattle Parks and Recreation, the city has been looking for partnerships with organizations that provide community services, especially those with children and family components. With programs such as its helmet campaign, ride training, Bike to Work Month, and Active and Safe Routes to School, Cascade fits the bill as would many other similar organizations.

Building 27 is the large unoccupied aircraft hangar out by the water. With a new roof and some seismic retrofits it is large enough to house an entire community of services. Imagine an all-season indoor facility replete with climbing wall, indoor soccer, volleyball, basketball, tennis, skateboard, BMX, spinning, weight room, running track, kayak launching, kids playland, physiology lab, etc. in the middle, and office space, meeting rooms, bar & grill, shower facilities, daycare, etc. on the periphery. On nice days the full height hangar doors could be opened at either end to create an open air feel. Imagine the whole family riding in to Sand Point on a Saturday morning: 3yo Johnny plays at playland while 6yo Michelle takes a riding skills course, 12yo Jack attends a velodrome skills class, 14yo Jane does some rock climbing, mom goes on a club ride with uncle Dave, dad teaches an effective cycling course, and grandma takes the grandkids to the playground while grandpa cheers on 24yo Debbie at the Cascade Triathlon.

Afterwards everyone gets together for a picnic or meal, shops at the recreation themed retail outlets, watches a movie or presentation, or performs volunteer work for one of the many volunteer organizations located in the facility.

Cascade or a conglomerate of like-minded organizations could hold the primary lease from the city and sub-lease to other arts and human service organizations and other interested commercial enterprises such as coffee shops, copy centers, business incubators, and others seeking to partner or provide services. Lease revenue and a percentage of profits would go toward furthering advocacy, education, and other community service programs. With low lease rates and access to the B-G trail, transit, and all the amenities of Magnuson Park – athletic fields, dog park, lake access, kids playground, etc. – not-for-profit and for-profit employers could compete favorably with other locations and organizations to attract, develop, and keep great employees and volunteers.

The idea is not novel. An arts organization much smaller than Cascade received a $50K grant from a prominent philanthropist to conduct a feasibility study for its operations at another vicinity within Sand Point/Magnuson Park. Leading up to the Bejing Olympics in 2008, the China USA Sports Summit has chosen Seattle as a venue for track cycling events in June 2005, 2007, and possibly olympic qualifiers in 2008. There is $ available for developing facilities for international level competition and fan viewing. Are you interested in collaborating to leverage each others' ideas and energy to investigate this farther? Email Mike Eddy with your thoughts, ideas, and contacts on how to make this vision a reality.

Click to enlarge view of Manchester Velodrome, England

Click to enlarge view of Los Angeles Velodrome

Click to enlarge view of Sydney's Dunc Gray Olympic Velodrome

Velodrome Links
UCI Cat 1 & 2 track specs http://www.uci.ch/imgArchive/AboutUCI/A3trac04.pdf

world wide 'dromes http://www.velodromes.com/

US, Canada 'dromes http://www.americantrackracing.com/Members.htm

Marymoor Velodrome, Redmond, WA http://www.marymoorvelodrome.org/

Alpenrose Velodrome, Portland http://www.obra.org/track/