What more encouragement is needed to get on your bike when Europe’s largest cycling park opens on your doorstep? Chris Price took a look at Cyclopark and its humble Olympic dream.

As Britain’s cyclists hopefully step on to the podiums at this summer’s London 2012 Games, inevitably some children will jump on their bikes and try to mimic the heroes of the hour.

As Europe’s largest cycling park, Cyclopark, launches in Kent this weekend, they will certainly have plenty of space to imagine their own victories. Yet the people running the 43-hectare site near Gravesend have a few dreams of their own about the people who will use it.

“I hope that in 2016, a youngster from Kent is able to compete at the next Olympic Games having picked up the sport and trained at Cyclopark,” said Cyclopark Trust chief executive Laurence Tricker. “That would be absolutely perfect.”

Looking at the site, it is not unthinkable the dream could become a reality. Aimed at catering for cyclists “from playground to podium,” it has a world-class cycling circuit, a championship-standard mountain bike route and its flagship feature, the international-level BMX track.

“Standing on top of the BMX ramp, which is five metres high, is quite a buzz,” said Laurence, who has overseen the project from brainstorming ideas with the local community to today.

The national standard 340-metre racetrack was designed and built by the UK’s top track builder, Clarke and Kent Contractors. In line with national standards for competitions, it has already hosted the Southern Regional Finals, which was the first test event held back in October. The USA BMX team have even visited.

Let it not be forgotten, however, the whole point of Cyclopark. Back in 2007, it was just a massive spare piece of land left over after the A2 was moved south a few hundred feet to add an extra lane. Meetings were organised with people from Gravesend and the surrounding area to find out what to do with the space.

“When we went out to discuss what people would like, we got a mix of suggestions from ice rinks to allotments to a horse riding centre” said Laurence. “But predominantly, the community was looking for more sports facilities which were both good for youngsters and had a competition element.

“The passion for this came from people saying ‘let’s have something good for the community.’”

Consequently, Cyclopark is a family-orientated place with plenty to do for non-cyclists. It has a 600-square-metre games area for a variety of sports and 3,000-square-metre playground for children. Skaters from Gravesend helped plan the 1,400 square metre skate park. The main Tarmac road is a 2.9km circuit, which is six metres wide for cycling, skating and running.

You easily get the sense it could be a much-loved family park as you approach past the houses dotted on the end of Wrotham Road. While this is on a former motorway site, it is not a wasteland in the wilderness. There are thousands of houses within a two-mile radius – easily within reach on your bike.

“There’s an enormous sense of pride that over the last four years the combined efforts of funding partners, the local community and KCC has produced one of the best cycling facilities in the South East, if not the country,” said Laurence.

To be a success, Cyclopark needs 100,000 visitors a year. It is hoped that launching before the Olympics opens up the door for attracting Olympic countries pre-Games for training purposes. It is also a doorway to the surrounding countryside, connecting with Jeskins and Shorne Woods Country Park and easily accessible from Ebbsfleet International station.

So close to London, within an hour’s train journey to the Continent and so close to one of north Kent’s biggest towns, how often can someone say that?

Cyclopark launches on Sunday, May 27 with a mass bike ride.Anyone can just turn up on their cycle and take part in the opening event, called Sky Ride Kent. Those who register onwww.goskyride.com/SkyRideCity also have the chance to win a trip to the National Cycling Centre to meet Sir Chris Hoy and have a go on the national track.

Sky Ride Kent kicks off at 10am. Other things to look out for on the opening day include the Kent School Games cycling final, the South Region BMX competition, the Gravesend Cyclopark 10K race and the Kent Road Runner marathon.Details onwww.cyclopark.com

Parking at Cyclopark is £1 for four hours or £2 all day. Each circuit carries its own admission price of around £3. Each circuit can be booked exclusively for an hour, four hours or a day. Prices vary.