LAGUNA SECA >> A petition with over 700 signatures in a little over a week is calling for a permanent bike course to be established within the Laguna Seca Recreational Area.

The petition was started May 25 and has since gained around 730 signatures. Supporters are urging Friends of Laguna Seca to include a permanent bike course and prioritize mountain bikes in its Facilities Master Plan which is slated to be approved Aug. 7.

“The petition itself is to just demonstrate to decision makers the community will that is behind this interest,” said Monterey Off-Road Cycling Association Vice President Peter Berridge.

The petition is also calling on the Monterey County Parks Commission and County Board of Supervisors to support the initiative. Friends of Laguna Seca officially took over management of WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca as well as the recreational area last August. Monterey County continues to own the property while Friends of Laguna Seca is financially responsible for maintenance and upgrades.

Berridge created the online petition, with the nonprofit backing the proposed bike course. Established in 2006, the organization advocates for recreation mountain biking opportunities in Monterey County for people from all walks of life.

The petition specifically calls for four things:

Identify mountain biking as a priority within the Laguna Seca Facilities Master Plan

Develop a permanent bicycle slalom course or progressive-skills area that accommodates all ages and ability levels within Laguna Seca Recreation Area

Outline the phased development of a bike park with trails and amenities designed for bikes within the Facilities Master Plan

Collaborate with Off-Road Cycling Association, also known as MORCA, to conceptualize plans and access funding, planning, development and maintenance resources

The continued success of the Sea Otter Classic, an annual cycling and outdoor sports event, is referenced in the petition as proof the local community would welcome a dedicated bike course. The event is considered the largest cycling event in the country and pulled in an estimated 70,000 people this year.

The Sea Otter Classic includes a slalom course, which is highlighted in the petition as a potentially good addition to the recreational area.“That’s kind of the stimulus for this, is that MORCA as well as many other community members, and I thought it would be a good idea too, is to have more of a permanent location for that dual slalom and then allow the public to … come in and ride it,” said Byran Flores, chief of parks at the county’s Public Works department.

The Off-Road Cycling Association and the county have collaborated over the years on parks projects including trail maintenance and fundraising but this Laguna Seca initiative is not a collaboration, Flores clarified.

The Off-Road Cycling Association previously lobbied for the city of Monterey to prioritize bike access at the Old Capitol Site along Iris Canyon Road.

Parks and Recreation and the Monterey City Council ultimately decided not to include MORCA’s recommendations in the Old Capitol Site Master Plan.

While that project didn’t take off, the organization learned a lot through its efforts, said Berridge. “This seems like the next best opportunity, but one that I think is more realistic,” he said.

The Association envisions the course to be built in an area that doesn’t inhibit parking or racetrack operations.

The park would also include an adjacent pump track, a looping course designed for riders to complete by “pumping” the bike with their body weight as well as beginner, intermediate and expert trails.

The organization proposes the trails branch off Trail 47 as it currently exits the Cal Am Campground A area.

The idea is that a new entrance into Laguna Seca could eventually be constructed that utilizes the stoplights at Highway 68 and Laureles Grade to open into the new trail network.

WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca usually hosts between 8-10 major events each year, including the Sea Otter Classic.

“There’s 43 other weekends where something else could be happening there, and ideally something that doesn’t just benefit visitors,” said Berridge, “… but something that could really benefit locals too. Something like a bike park.”

As far as the feasibility of this project, “anything is possible” with the proper funding and there are grants that could be used in order to fund the project, according to Flores.

Based on what he’s seen in other communities that have established permanent bike courses and trails, Berridge said he believes this initiative could have long-lasting positive effects on everyone involved.

“It brings the community together in a sort of a shared appreciation for the natural environment around us, for a shared appreciation for doing your part to steward those trails,” said Berridge.

“It’s a shared interest in collective input and collective benefit that I think really are kind of the hallmarks of where community connection springs from.”