Construction of the new bike skills park in the Ashburton Domain will get underway in March.

It is expected to take three months to build and come in under budget thanks to the support of local trusts and businesses.

The park will be called Tarbotton RideSmart Park, in recognition of the donation of machinery and labour by Ashburton company Tarbotton Land and Civil.

Ashburton District Council, Tarbottons and the group of community members charged with bringing the park to life signed a Memorandum of Understanding today [Dec 15] to officially get the project underway.

The bike skills park will be developed without ratepayer funds, though the council will be in charge of its maintenance once completed, estimated to be around $25,000 a year.

Project spokesperson Lesley Symington said it had been estimated to cost around $500,000 but is set to be much lower due to local generosity.

"We don't know what the final cost is going to be because the response from local businesses has been so generous."

The project has received offers of discounted prices from various suppliers across aspects of the project, she said.

"Until we get all that in place we still don't have a bottom line figure of the cost, but it won't be $500,000."

Ashburton Mayor Liz McMillan, who is on the working group, said the generous donation by Tarbottons meant construction could start at the end of summer.

“We’ve also had generous funding from the Lion Foundation and Mid and South Canterbury Community Trust, and now with the help of Tarbottons and other local businesses, we are able to start the physical build.”

Tarbotton RideSmart Park will be built in the domain, near the children’s playground.

The Ashburton District Council approved the Ashburton Domain, at the existing pump track next to the children’s playground, as the location in 2023 and then approved the initial concept plans in May 2024.

The existing asphalt pump track was originally to be incorporated into the new park will be removed and a new, bigger track built in its place.

The park will feature a network of roads, with stop and give way signs and traffic lights, a railway crossing and a roundabout – all of which cyclists, scooter riders, and pedestrians encounter when moving around Ashburton and other urban centres.

Tarbotton Land and Civil business development manager Tim Tarbotton said the company had been on board during the planning stages and saw the park as a valuable and educational community facility.

“There’s such great enthusiasm for this bike park and it was an easy decision to offer to project manage the job and donate the machinery and people needed to get the work done.

“We’re planning for construction to take just three months.”

The park is aimed at teaching road safety skills to children, young people and adults as they learn how to ride a bike or scooter.

McMillan said while the major funders had enabled the project to get underway, there were still sponsorship opportunities for local businesses, groups, or people who wanted to contribute.

“We know there are more supporters out there and their help will mean we can finish this project to a high standard that will serve the community well for years.”

Supporters will be acknowledged on a project sign to be erected at the park.

By Jonathan Leask