On February 18th at 5:30p.m, the Chestermere Lions Club made a generous donation of $50,000 towards the development of the Chestermere Mountain Bike Skills Park. The bike park, which is currently being built adjacent to the Rainbow Falls Elementary School, will take up around three acres of land, and will feature three levels of difficulty; beginner, intermediate, and advanced.
The Chestermere Lions Club applied for a grant from the government back in the summer, and received the call around three weeks ago that their application was approved. “It was a fantastic surprise,” the Lions Club agreed. They applied for the Government of Alberta Community Initiatives Program Project Based Grants, and due to their good partnership with the Town, the grant was issued to them accordingly.
It was back in 2008 that the Chestermere YELL group was brainstorming ways to provide recreational opportunities for the youth of Chestermere. When the idea of a bike park came up, members of the committee were excited to explore the option further. In 2009, the Chestermere Lions Club teamed up with YELL to help make the first bike park possible. However, due to its location behind Safeway, it became clear that a different location for the bike park was crucial to find once development began in that area.
“It is extremely important to be an active member of the community,” says The Lions Club, “it inspires youth, and people of all ages to become involved.” By being involved in the community, the Chestermere Lions Club has been the helping hand of many different events around the Town, the most recent being their generous donation of time, food, and support at the Family Day Unplugged event.
Established in 2003, the Chestermere Lions Club has been built upon the belief in the importance of being active in the community, including different special events and occurrences throughout the year. Being a Lion requires your time, but will essentially strengthen your talents, allow you to learn new skills, and create long-lasting friendships. The program offers many different opportunities to volunteer, which on its own provides the person, no matter what age, a sense of pride and accomplishment. They are always looking for eager new members to join their team, the Chestermere Lions Club is all ages!
The generous donation is not directed to any specific part of the final developments of the Chestermere Mountain Bike Skills Park. Instead, it will go to any area that is in immediate need of funds. With the progress that has already been made, the funds will most likely go towards areas such as landscaping, and any final completion components that the park may require. If you are interested in becoming part of the Chestermere Lions Club’s team, do not hesitate to visit www.chestermerelionsclub.com
