SAGLE, Idaho -- Residents of a rural community in Sagle, Idaho are advocating against plans to build a mountain bike park in the area.Â
Construction will begin next month on the 170-acre mountain bike park in Sagle, just 10 minutes outside of Sandpoint, Idaho. Some locals believe the park will disrupt the area's peace and quiet.Â
"I'm just seeing it just totally being taken over and being 'city-fied'," said Mary Miller, a resident of Sagle for over 30 years. "It's a rural community and it's zoned here rural, and they're slowly taking that away."Â
Miller and other neighbors are also concerned the park will compromise public safety, contribute to corrosion and create fire risks on the unkept hillside.Â
Shaun McCollum moved to the area with his family to enjoy Sagle's nature and tranquility. He is worried about the plan.Â
"I came up here with the dream of how quiet it is and spending my days here and passing it on, and now, just to see what somebody can come in and do, and possibly ruin hundreds of people's dreams for their one dream, it just doesn't make sense," said McCollum.Â
The park developers, Jennifer and Scott Kalbach said the bike park will not be a disruption.Â
In response to the locals' concerns about the park's impact on the area's environment, the Kalbachs said, "I don't think it's true at all. I think that the mountain bike crowd tends to care about nature and the environment. I believe that it'll fit perfectly within the community."Â
Jennifer and Scott plan to run the park as a family business along with their two sons.Â
The Park Panhandle Bike Ranch is set to break ground on May 1.Â
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