PORT ST. LUCIE — Put a kid on a bike on a race track sprinkled with jumps, lumps and bumps, and you’re likely to have one happy kid. Or teenager. Or adult, for that matter.

A new bicycle track for riders who love speeding through 1,000 feet of tricky obstacles is expected to open near Crosstown Parkway and Interstate 95 in Port St. Lucie in October.

The M-shaped track with tight turns, jumps and small hills known as “whoops” is the brainchild of the new Port St. Lucie BMX Association and Michael Kohler, a Port St. Lucie geographic computer scientist and BMX racer who works on Everglades restoration.

With two children, ages 5 and 6, a track in their hometown seemed like a natural to Kohler, 38, and his wife, Stephanie.

“We had to drive all over the state to race,” Michael Kohler said. “We usually go to the Okeeheelee track in Palm Beach County but it’s an hour each way. My son Josh started a year ago and has already won several races.”

Dedicated enthusiasts of Bicycle Motocross, otherwise known as BMX, the Kohlers started the Port St. Lucie BMX Association in May with a seven-member board of directors that includes Louie Patterelli, owner of Sprockets bike store, as president and Michael Kohler as track director. They are applying for non-profit status.

BMX is a form of local, state, and national bicycle racing on a dirt track with raised curves, jumps that go by names like step-up and tabletop, and low hills that, like speed bumps, are intended to slow a rider down.

Located on park land leased from the city by Invincibles Paintball, the Port St. Lucie track is expected to be sanctioned by the National Bicycle League. BMX racing became part of the Summer Olympics in Beijing in 2008, and racers can achieve professional as well as amateur ranking.

“It’s a great family sport,” Michael Kohler said. “Kids and adults ages 3 to 60-plus participate. It’s an alternative to the more traditional mainstream sports like baseball and basketball.”

The association expects to get help building the track from the from the National Bicycle League’s experienced track builders. Dirt was donated by the city. They can still use plenty of volunteers to help in the effort, though, and are looking for a cement donation for the starting hill.

“We are building this track for the community, not just for us,” Michael Kohler said.

City Councilman Chris Cooper said the track will give teens and others something new to challenge them and keep them occupied.

“Kids say there’s nothing to do in Port St. Lucie, but this gives them another place to go and have fun,” Cooper said.

Land clearing took place in June, construction is expected to start in August, and the track should be open by October, Kohler said.

BMX IN PSL

Open house: Weekend “open house” has started at the track, Saturdays and Sundays, 5 to 7 p.m. Meet other enthusiasts and find out what BMX racing is all about.

Parent meeting: Port St. Lucie BMX Association will have their initial Parent Council meeting Saturday at 6:00 p.m. at the track.

Location: 2201 SW Del Rio Blvd. by the paintball park, about 100 feet south of the Crosstown Parkway intersection with I-95.

For more information: Visit www.pslbmx.webs.com on the Web.

By Susan Burgess, TCPalm.com

Tags: baseball, basketball, beach, bicycle, children, communication, computer, computers, driving, everglades, housing, informant, kids, name, national, paintball, parents, raise, raises, restoration, speeding, Sports, teen, teens, Tradition, volunteer, volunteering, volunteers, web, wife

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