RAMPING IT UP
Children ages 2 to 5 compete in BMX Strider events at the Sarasota track. Photo courtesy of Sarasota County
THE COUNTY COMMISSION TENTATIVELY AGREES TO FUND THE UPGRADES
NEEDED TO MAKE ITS BMX TRACK A MAJOR COMPETITION VENUE
By Rachel Brown Hackney
Editor
It took him a few months, but Sarasota County Commissioner Joe Barbetta finally won
support from his fellow board members this
week for upgrading the county's BMX facility
on 17th Street.
fore the County Commission during the public
comments portion of its regular meeting on
Aug. 27 to plead for the addition of a 5-meter ramp and the reconfiguration of the track
to make the BMX facility the only one of its
type available on the U.S. East Coast — and
Although Barbetta's motion was pegged to the only the second one in the nation. The other
county's Parks and Recreation Department facility, in Chula Vista, CA, is in demand by
supplying documentaathletes from all over
tion of project details
the world for training
I can support the project. It's hard to purposes, the comand estimates, his motion passed on a unan- resist when these kids come in front of you. missioners heard in
imous vote.
public comments at
Nora Patterson
Commissioner
their Aug. 20 budget
It came after more
Sarasota County
workshop.
people appeared be-
