CLEVELAND, Ohio -- After about five years of planning, the nonprofit Cleveland Velodrome cycling track is scheduled to open in June in the city's North Broadway neighborhood.

Groundbreaking is planned for Tuesday on 8.4 acres at Broadway and Pershing Avenue, the former home of St. Michael Hospital. The bicycle track is scheduled to open June 16.

"It is a great way to get kids into cycling," said Brett David, board president of Fast Track Cycling, which is running the velodrome. "It is safer than driving on some of these roads, battling cars."

Construction of the $300,000 project with be a monumental landmark in the nonprofit's vision of running a velodrome free for youngsters18 and under. Adults will have to pay to rent the bikes used on the track. The velodrome is being done in conjunction with the nonprofit Slavic Village Development Corp.

Fast Track Cycling selected the site two years ago with intentions of buying it. But ultimately the nonprofit reached an agreement with the city to lease the property for $1 a year.

The track is being built by V-WorldWide Inc. of Rochester, Mich.

"It's an oval track," Davis said. "The substructure is steel. The riding surface is plywood -- laminated marine-grade plywood."

Future plans include enclosing the track so that it may operate year round.

Davis said volunteer power is what pedaled the velodrome to its first victory lap. He said volunteer power will continue to fuel the operation. Volunteers are needed to help with landscaping, painting, track assembly and track programming. People may sign up at clevelandvelodrome.org.

Davis said he intends to work on making the track the site of national and international cycling competitions.

Mayor Frank Jackson welcomes the development.

"This velodrome is a welcome addition for cycling enthusiasts in the city of Cleveland," Jackson said in a news release. "It will allow for people of all ages in the city to be exposed to the culture of the international sport of fast-track cycling and give them an additional form of physical activity to engage in."

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