There is a little-known effort percolating in greater Lewiston-Auburn to build a BMX – bicycle motocross – track to support growing numbers of people, mainly youth, interested in this sport. The volunteer effort is driven by a passion to give kids a place in Maine to get outside and enjoy this physical activity and, as a side benefit, draw visitors from other regions of Maine and New England to take part in competitions in our backyard.

Maine hasn’t had a track since the 1980s, which creates an opportunity for a community to become the Maine hub of BMX activity, should it allow a site to be built.

It all sounds quite harmless. Kids want to be active outside with bikes rather than inside playing on computers or causing mischief in our neighborhoods. Volunteers are ready and willing to lead the project and do the fundraising to build a community asset. But in Maine, no good deed goes without its fair share of “Not In My BackYard-ism.”

What seemed like a perfect opportunity to meet this identified need was met with abutters disinterested in seeing such a project proceed in Lisbon. A company, Maine Bicycle Motocross Inc. approached the town of Lisbon about leasing a portion of town property that is unsuitable for any development because it was once a landfill. This sounded like reasonable use for a capped dump that is sitting valueless, at the moment.

As due diligence proceeded on arranging a lease with the town and pursuing discussions with the Lisbon Planning Board about the site, an abutter hired an attorney and challenged the standing of the project and neighbors became vocal in opposition. Ultimately, it went back to the town council for a straw vote, and was rejected as a possibility.

These dedicated volunteers have now turned their attention to Durham, and are hopeful that selectmen there will be supportive as they search for a viable site in the town to build a track.

Without professional staff, MaineBMX faces an uphill battle in overcoming NIMBY-ism for their project in any community. Beyond dealings with municipal officials on permitting, holding public meetings, creating a public relations plan to defuse critics, and a managing a host of other challenges likely to arise, these attempts could be stifled without leadership from a community and its leaders in the face of resistance.

Windmills, heavy industry, large scale residential developments and a suite of other projects always face their fair share of local resistance and NIMBY-ism, but come equipped with attorneys and consultants to walk their way through the permitting. Those projects can afford such staff because they stand to reap serious profits.

But for community assets for outdoor youth recreation, like the BMX track, the intangibles of quality of life and keeping youth connected to the community don’t merit expensive consultants because one can’t put a price on them.

Those that don’t follow the Olympics closely might have missed BMX racing’s debut at the summer games this year in Beijing. It is not just an extreme sport anymore, it is mainstream. This region has an opportunity to be put on the map by aligning and supporting a sport that is growing in public awareness and participation.

This region, which is already struggling to retain youth and working families, should consider how this asset might be part of a larger plan to stay attractive and retain families.

And when opposition arises, our community leaders should ask NIMBYs for their better plan.

Jonathan LaBonte, of New Auburn, is a columnist for the Sun Journal. E-mail: [email protected].