By Raiza Giorgi
publisher@santaynezvalleystar.com
The Buellton City Council recently approved a Bike Skills Course at River View Park in collaboration with Santa Ynez Valley Youth Recreation to assist in guiding this volunteer led project. The project was unanimously approved at their May 13 regular meeting.
“We are excited to collaborate with SYV Youth Rec and the volunteers that will be a great community amenity. Bikers of all ages and skill levels will be able to get outside and have a fun place to practice and get out energy,” said Kyle Abello, Buellton Parks and Rec coordinator.
The project is being led by SYV Youth Recreation Coordinator Paul Smith, along with MSN Engineer Kent Yankee who volunteered his time to design the course. The course will be on the east side of River View Park, next to the parking lot.
They presented a simplified design that takes advantage of the existing terrain to minimize the amount of additional fill dirt needed on the site, and it is able to be accomplished as a volunteer led project, according to the staff report.
Smith also worked with local contractor DJ Dunn, who is also a member of Santa Ynez Valley Youth Recreation, to provide the rough cost estimate. The hand tools that will be purchased would be kept and used for periodic maintenance days of the course. Volunteers would also be encouraged to bring their own tools for the work days to create the course. In addition to the skilled guidance for the volunteer work crew free of charge, Dunn has also pledged to donate his time and fuel to run his Bobcat tractor to assist in the dirt work. Given the volunteer labor and the material price discounts made possible by the business partnerships of Santa Ynez Valley Youth Recreation, the cost estimate of this first phase of the Bike Skills Course is $5,422.22.
The council also approved two projects brought by the Buellton Arts and Culture Committee, recently established to create more opportunities for the arts in the city. The first project approved was the Mosaic Pillars and Entry Sign at the Santa Ynez Valley Botanic Garden, located on the west side of River View Park.
The applicant, SYV Botanic Garden Foundation, have already raised $3,500 for this project with an additional $3,000 of pending private donations plus numerous in-kind contributions such as architectural drawings, landscape architect review, and pro bono engineering advice. They were approved for an additional $15,000 of funding that will pay for engineering, materials, and installation of two original Michelle Griffoul mosaic tiled pillars and fabrication and installation of a metal entry sign at the entrance to the Botanic Garden. Any unspent funds are required to be returned to the City.
The second project approved was $2,500 for the SYV Teen Arts Workshops, that will consist of a one or two Sunday intensive painting workshops for 20-25 teens in the venue of the Botanic Garden (estimated 10-16 hours of instruction and preparation time).
The mission of SYV Teen Arts is to provide teens in our community with in-depth instruction in a variety of artistic media and techniques by professional artists and foster a nurturing atmosphere.
There is no date set yet for the workshops until further restrictions are lifted from the COVID-19 situation, however once the pieces are created, they will be exhibited in a digital gallery linked to the City website and the original artwork would be displayed in City buildings, library, Rec Center, and Buellton school campuses.
