SHREVEPORT, LA – On Friday, July 17, the Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau and Sports Commission teamed up to renovate Cargill BMX Park, located at 2800 Cargill Drive in Shreveport. More than 10 volunteers and staff members painted announcer booths and restored the concession areas. Caddo Paint provided 10 gallons of paint, and H&E equipment provided a 45-foot boom lift to assist with light fixtures and other inaccessible areas.
“The Sports Commission suffered from more than 20 cancelled events this year due to COVID-19,” said Kelly Wells, executive director of the Sports Commission. “We are grateful to have outdoor venues like Cargill Park that still allow Shreveport-Bossier residents to take advantage of sports amid the pandemic, so the park’s cleanup initiative is merely a token of our appreciation. However, it would be impossible to achieve our goal without donations from Caddo Paint and H&E Equipment.”
The purpose of refurbishing the bicycle motocross grounds is to improve the quality of the race track for the upcoming BMX Louisiana State Qualifier, which begins on Friday, July 31 and ends on Sunday, Aug. 2 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Spectators are welcome to watch bicyclists of all ages grind and spin on obstacles, as well as launch and land on dirt mounds, as they compete for the win. Bleacher seating and food trucks will be available. Social distancing will be enforced. Masks are encouraged but not required, as the park stretches across 40 acres. Admission is free.
“USA BMX is excited to give Shreveport-Bossier an outdoor activity that is both safe and fun,” said Craton Cochran, BMX track operator. “It’s rewarding to know that we are still able to host an event amid a global pandemic, and we want to welcome the public out to Cargill to view a revitalized park and experience the world of motocross first-hand if they feel comfortable doing so.”
USA BMX is an American bicycle association that is established through annual memberships. USA BMX memberships include access to any USA BMX track across the country, weekly practices, free entry to races. USA BMX annual membership is $65. Weekly rates are available. The Cargill BMX Track is currently open every Tuesday and Saturday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
For more information about joining USA BMX, contact Craton Cochran at 318-655-8676 or iconcraton@aol.com. To host a BMX event in Shreveport-Bossier, visit www.ShreveportBossierSports.com.