Extended hours are now available at the Stevie Smith Bike Park in central Nanaimo, courtesy installation of several light poles over recent months. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

let there be light

New lights offering extended hours for riders at Nanaimo bike park

Oct 21, 2024 | 5:24 AM

NANAIMO — A long-envisioned addition to one of the region’s best bike parks is finally a reality.

Nearly a dozen light poles have gone up at the Stevie Smith Bike Park at Nanaimo’s Beban Park over recent months, with the switch on the lights finally being flipped on in recent weeks.

Co-founder of the Steve Smith Legacy Foundation, Michelle Corfield, told NanaimoNewsNOW the addition gives local riders unprecedented access to the park regardless of the time of year.

“We have a very short window of light opportunity…so we have many dark days and this brings light to those dark days. On a fall day like today, the kids can have the lights on and be able to ride safety without any shadow which is critically important when you’re jumping. This opens it up until 10 p.m. every night, 365 days a year.”

Riders just have to push a button at the park and they get an hour of light to use. The lights are shutoff for the evening at 10 p.m. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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Lights work off a switch located at the top of the park, with riders given an hour’s worth of light when pushing a small button.

The lights flicker for the last few minutes of the hour, alerting riders to either wrap up or add more time by pushing the button again.

They then shutoff at 10 p.m. for the night.

To celebrate their installation, the Foundation is hosting a Halloween-themed ride Wednesday evening with riders encouraged to wear appropriate costumes.

Dana Butcher is the Foundation’s self-described jack of all trades and took a leadership role in the installation of the project, which began in June.

He said several of the poles were donated by the City, after recent upgrades at Harewood Centennial Park.

“It was done in several different stages as poles became available and donated, lighting arms available and donated. It’s been in the works since June, so it took a while to get there but we’re here now.”

The lights provide an even coverage over the park, allowing for safe jumps and rides down the hill even in pitch black. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Work was done with the help of corporate and private sponsors including considerable efforts from Crankbrothers, a mountain bike component and accessory company.

Total project cost was over $350,000.

Corfield added the addition of lights at the park is a huge step forward to improve a park, which she said has helped “create a skill set that existed nowhere else in our own riders.”

“Our own riders look after these parks…these kids are not only responsible for keeping up the maintenance on the day to day of the bike park, but they have to keep care of the tools. This builds good, solid foundations to build good, contributing Nanaimo-ites.”

Randy Little, a co-founder of the Foundation, said total numbers of riders on a daily basis is tough to count, but the facility is very popular.

“A couple of years ago, I went in just to let the City know [how many were there]. I pulled in there one day with an Ice Cap and counted 137 kids riding the whole bike park on a summer day. There’s no other park that keeps the kids busy, not even close.”

The next major project at the central Nanaimo park is to install a gazebo seating area for parents to move them away from active riders at the bottom of the track.

Additional work from the Foundation has also seen creation of a bike track at Harewood Centennial Park, and the group is in the early planning stages for a new pump track in Cedar next to the existing skate park.

Lights cover both the dirt and paved tracks at the park, allowing riders of all skill levels extra hours to hone their skills. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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