With the development of cycling trails in Allen County and beyond, Iola High School students Jordan Swart and Diamend McFadden are interested in another two-wheeled discipline: BMX cycling.
The LaHarpe teens spoke about their efforts Wednesday at a high school assembly featuring BMX Hall of Famer Darrell Pulliam of Pittsburg.
Organizers announced earlier this year that a BMX dirt track will be added to LaHarpe City Park, and paid for through a local crowdfunding campaign.
With the campaign near its $10,000 goal ? which will be matched by another $10,000 from the Kansas Health Foundation ? enough funds should be on hand to build a BMX course on the east edge of the park; add a water fountain and benches elsewhere in the park; and reintroduce the LaHarpe Day celebration in June.
Swart and McFadden spoke about trying to find ways to become more involved in the community, and finding that avenue through the LaHarpe PRIDE Committee and Thrive Allen County.
?We really wanted to see what it was all about,? Swart said.
That led to a ?Real LaHarpe? community meeting last September in which residents targeted park amenities among the improvements they wanted to see.
Because Allen County has no other official BMX course, both Swart and McFadden are eager to see their dreams become reality.
But, they noted, it won?t be easy.
They encouraged their schoolmates ? more than 120 were on hand for the assembly ? to approach them about being involved in the course development.
?It should be a lot of fun,? McFadden said.
PULLIAM shared his love of cycling, which came about as a 5-year-old.
?I got really interested in BMX,? Pulliam said. ?I just really enjoyed the thrill of being outside, riding jumps, seeing how far we could jump. That feeling never really goes away.?
The Hutchinson native was successful enough as a BMX racer to garner local and regional sponsorships. Even better were the factory sponsorships, he said, in which bike manufacturers would pay for his equiopment and travel to races across the country.
?That was my job from junior high until I finished college,? he said.
Travel was extensive ? 35 weeks a year ? but invigorating, he said.
?Fortunately, my school was extremely supportive,? he said.?
