New cycling course is good investment

Rock Hill has prospered by turning the city into a center for sports and recreation. We think plans to expand on those attractions are a smart move.

Rock Hill officials are looking at a proposal to borrow about $5.8 million to upgrade several public parks and recreation facilities. The loan then would be paid back with proceeds from the 2 percent hospitality tax.

That is both an economical approach and a good use of hospitality tax money, which must be spent to promote tourism.

The largest project in the package being considered by the city would be a new criterium cycling road course at the Outdoor Center in the Riverwalk development. The 1.5-mile, 20-foot-wide paved race course would complement the other world-class cycling facilities at Riverwalk, including a BMX Supercross track and a cycling velodrome.

The Outdoor Center already is one of the only facilities on the East Coast that can accommodate national competitions and is suitable for training Olympic-level cyclists. The new criterium course would help attract even more cyclists and events to the center.

While the cycling center often is frequented by the best athletes in the sport, it also serves as a place to introduce children to cycling. In addition to the supercross track and the velodrome, the center also has a mountain bike course where youngsters can get training and learn about cycling safety.

Riverwalk, which includes houses, apartments, shops and office space, also features running and walking trails and a kayak and canoe launch on the nearby Catawba River. And a series of multipurpose athletic fields soon will be opened to the public.

In addition to improvements at Riverwalk, the package envisioned by city planners includes four new tennis courts at the Rock Hill Tennis Center on Cherry Road, new lights and other upgrades at Cherry Park, an upgraded canoe and kayak launch at River Park, public restrooms between River Park and Riverwalk, and expanded parking at Riverwalk and Glencairn Garden near downtown Rock Hill.

Using hospitality tax money to pay for amenities that will attract more visitors to the city is practically a self-funding investment. Over the past five years, revenues from the food and beverage hospitality tax have grown an average of 11.5 percent a year.

That number is expected to grow at least 5 percent a year as tourism continues to grow, and increasing the number and quality of recreational attractions to the city can only help attract more tourists. Those out-of-town visitors spend money on food, gas and lodging, which increases the proceeds from the hospitality tax.

But while planners emphasize the importance of tourism, it also is important to note that the Outdoor Center, the tennis center, Cherry Park and all the other recreational facilities in the city also benefit local and area residents and enhance the quality of life for all. That makes this proposed package an even better deal.

This story was originally published August 19, 2015 at 6:09 PM with the headline "New cycling course is good investment."