BALTIMORE — Plans for a dirt-bike park for Baltimore City- the first such park in the country - are moving forward thanks to $3 million in federal funds.
U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen are announcing today that $3 million is going toward building the park, as well as toward expanding STEM programs for Baltimore students.
The group B-360 launched a capital campaign exactly one year ago to build a permanent urban dirt-bike park in the city.
Cardin and Van Hollen were holding a press conference today at The RICH Center on Roundview Road in Cherry Hill.
Today is also the second annual B-360 Day, which seeks to highlight "the urgent need to reduce dirt bike-related arrests in America, while showcasing how dirt bike culture can be used to increase children and young adult’s interests in science, technology, engineering and math."
Since 2017, B-360 has helped more than 9 ,000 students. It was created by founder Brittany Young.
Young said B-360 utilizes dirt bike culture to end the cycle of poverty, disrupt the prison pipeline, and build bridges in communities through STEM education.
“We hope that this is not only a seed in B-360 but a seed in Baltimore City, and also a seed in Black lead organizations every day, working with youth, doing the work, and disrupting prison pipelines,” Young said.
“Bikes may look simple, but these are complicated machines and when you learn about the bike you’re learning about mechanics, you’re learning about design, you’re learning about 3D printing, you’re learning about physics. It is a great window into learning about wads of skills that can be put to really good use in our community STEM skills and other skills,” Van Hollen said.
B-360 organizers have not decided where the dirt bike facility will be that’s something they are still finalizing. However, B 360 will be hosting a series of events this weekend in honor of B 360 day. To learn more about their design faze and future plans click here.
