PALM BAY, Fla. – A representative from USA BMX presented a proposal for a large racing complex to the Palm Bay City Council Thursday evening, pitching it as a positive addition to the city that could help the troubled area known as “The Compound.”
Timothy Collins, a Palm Bay native and longtime BMX enthusiast, was among the supporters who attended the meeting to back the proposed facility.
“The Compound has been known for a lot of things, not always positive,” Collins said. “A BMX park would give kids something to do. They could go there not just to race, but to have fun.”
The area has previously associated with crime, including multiple murders in recent years, but it would be transformed by the BMX complex if approved. USA BMX estimates the facility could cost between $2.7 million and $5.2 million, depending on the level of amenities included.
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Brian Travis, director of business development for USA BMX, addressed the council and community members during the presentation.
“There are a lot of BMX-ers here tonight who have to travel outside Brevard County for other tracks,” Travis said. “We would ask the council to consider helping create a new sports facility so people don’t have to leave the community and can stay in the best city on earth.”
Supporters from surrounding areas also attended the meeting to voice their support. Jennifer Kraatz traveled from Palm Beach and emphasized the lack of BMX tracks nearby, calling the area “a BMX desert.”
According to USA BMX, the complex could have an annual economic impact of $2.5 million, drawing visitors from across the country for national competitions. The organization projects that 70 percent of attendees at these events would be visitors spending money in Palm Bay.
Travis praised the proposed location, saying, “It is right on the edge… It’s not very deep into The Compound, and it’s easily accessible.”
City officials noted that the project remains in its early stages, with no immediate decisions expected.
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