The city of Port Angeles has awarded $50,000 to the Lincoln Park BMX Association for improvements to the city-owned Lincoln Park BMX Track.

The City Council voted 7-0 in December to approve the lodging tax expenditure on its consent agenda.

The funding was part of a $827,000 lodging tax spending package that the council authorized Nov. 7.

“I’m so pleased with this,” Deputy Mayor Cherie Kidd said at the Dec. 19 meeting. “It shows the council’s willingness to invest in infrastructure for our city.”

The lodging tax fund supports marketing efforts or capital projects that put “heads in beds” by encouraging overnight stays for those traveling at least 50 miles, city officials have said.

The Lincoln Park BMX Association will match the $50,000 expenditure with volunteer labor and equipment, Port Angeles Parks and Recreation Director Corey Delikat has said.

The first phase of the upgrades will be administered through a $30,000 grant to the Lincoln Park BMX Association.

The remaining $20,000 will be administered through the Parks and Recreation Department for the purchase of a new BMX track gate, according to an executive summary.

Track operator Sean Coleman told the council last month that a reconfigured track and new gate would attract more riders from around the region when the racing season begins in April.

“That new group that’s managing the BMX association has shown tremendous improvement and become a draw,” Kidd said. “Hopefully we’ll have a return on investment.”

Built by volunteers in 1993, the Lincoln Park BMX Track is in the southwest corner of Lincoln Park near the intersection of West Lauridsen Boulevard and L Street.

It hosted a state championship qualifier last July, drawing more than 200 riders from around the region.

Rob Ollikainen is a reporter with the Olympic Peninsula News Group, which is composed of Sound Publishing newspapers Peninsula Daily News, Sequim Gazette and Forks Forum. He can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56450, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.