CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — A local man recently pitched an idea to the Corpus Christi City Council which would re-open a BMX track on the west side.
The city council was supposed to vote on the offer at Tuesday's meeting, but the item was pulled from the agenda. At first glance it sounds like bad news, but it's really turned into a win/win situation.
From 2012-2018, Manuel Q. Salinas Park was home to the popular STX BMX track.
"It was very busy back when it was opened, and then we saw a decline," said Assistant Parks & Recreation Director Becky Perrin.
Since it closed, Fred Sanchez has worked to re-open the track. He thought he worked out a deal with the city where Sanchez and his Sea City BMX group would maintain the park and pay the city $50 dollars a month in rent, but the city's countered by giving Sanchez everything he wanted, without the rent.
"We're just asking that he puts that money back into the area to get the field up to where expectations are to be able to run the program," said Perrin.
The city's solution: Have Sanchez "adopt" the BMX track. They plan to meet with him next week to finalize a new agreement.
"This really is going to be a faster avenue . . . to be able to get him providing services to the community, because we're all excited about that," Perrin said.
Sanchez wasn't available for an on-camera interview, but told Scripps Media he's excited to get to work.
The Parks & Recreation Dept. offers adopt-a-park programs, for all city parks. Interested people or groups can adopt an entire park, or just a portion, for as long as they want. To start the process, simply fill out an application.
