Cleveland City Council Debates Motocross Park

A Cleveland City Council Committee debated a $2.3 million dirt-bike path on Monday morning proposed by Mayor Frank Jackson. It was a contentious affirmative vote.

The new motocross park would be the first of its kind in the country—a city-owned path for riders to participate in urban dirt-biking legally. But councilmembers had questions about safety and access.

Councilman Matt Zone worried about providing adequate medical support inside Marion Motley, the Kinsman neighborhood park.

"How we are we going to open up this facility and have some young person get in a severe accident and we don’t have the appropriate vehicle staffed to be able to deal with this?" He asked.

Testifying at the hearing, members of Mayor Jackson’s administration said they don’t have an answer just yet. They also don’t know whether or how much people will have to pay to ride inside. But the administration said they’re committed to making it accessible for all.

The legislation moved through committee on a five to three vote. But procedural confusion allowed more people to vote than actually sit on the committee. Two councilmen say they plan to fight it.