The editorial board met this week with Randy Cooper, the city parks director; Jeff Eben, the deputy mayor, and a few other excited folks about "Projects that will make Fresno the municipal Action Sports capital of California!" (Punctuation and capitalization theirs from the press kit).
Well, there you go. The superlatives were flying around the room. Just a few quotes from the press releases: "By early 2009, Fresno will hold the designation as the municipal action sports capital of California ... The largest paintball facility in the Central Valley ... three BMX dirt parks that will include what will likely be rated the best BMX track west of the Mississippi! ... Ramp It Up Fresno! ... some of the most dynamic trails in the nation." They were passing out cards for the Web site of the Woodward Park Mountain Bike Skills Progression Park, which was called on the cards the "most progressive mountain bike park in California." Click here to take a look at that.
Whew! I'm impressed already and most of the big stuff hasn't even happened yet. And that's the sinker. In our editorial tomorrow, we say it's great to have vision, wonderful to be hopeful, but when it comes to the city living up to its hype, well, be skeptical about the details, too.
Fortunately, a lot of this is already taking shape. If you are into BMX biking, mountain biking, skateboarding, paintball shooting or the tourism business, be sure to stay abreast of the city's plans. If everyone working on this project has half the energy and enthusiasm of Randy Cooper, well this could get done in a hurry. Sounds like big fun. My birthday's coming up... I think I'll ask for a pink beach cruiser with streamers and a wicker basket...Hey, stop laughing!
Gail,Please make sure you get a brain bucket to protect your melon.You can also put a little bumper sticker on your cruiser that says Vote Hillary over a scratched out Obama and Edwards.
Gail I want one too so we can laugh together. No bumper stickers though. It would be quite a sight indeed.