James Lee Park in Indian Hills is quickly becoming a popular hangout for skaters, families and teens, but the popularity has squeezed out the dirt bikers who used the area for riding.
Today, the Indian Hills General Improvement District Board of Trustees will consider whether to designate the canyon behind the park as an off-highway-vehicle park.
The designation would allow dirt bikes, motorcycles and ATVs to be ridden over the dirt trails and hills.
"We have hundreds of kids and some adults who ride two- and four-wheelers and the more we develop space the more they run out of real space to ride dirt," said general manager Jim Bentley.
James Lee Park recently underwent a $760,000 improvement with the addition of tennis courts, a skate park, ball fields and parking lots.
The canyon north and west of the park could provide 25 or more acres for dirt bike riders, Bentley said. The area backs up against U.S. Forest Service land, rich in trails, paths and hills for climbing and jumping.
Developing the canyon would cost about $25,000 to $30,000 for the installation of signs giving dirt bikers permission to use the area and possibly some design work. District officials also are thinking about installing a drinking-water station in the back area for riders.
The board is also expected to decide today whether to contract with special legal counsel to explore incorporating the district into a city. The district expects to spend at least six months investigating taxation issues to see if incorporation is possible, Bentley said.
The district is assuming it would incorporate residential neighborhoods and include the commercial areas where Wal-Mart, Target and Home Depot are located, up to the border of Carson City, he said.
What: Indian Hills General Improvement District, regular meeting
When: 7 p.m. today
Where: District Office, 924-D Mica Drive
