City purchases motocross park land

In a buyers market, the city of Hesperia continues to make big purchases.

Just weeks after beginning the process to acquire the Hesperia Golf and Country Club for its water rights (the deal is currently in escrow), the city has bought a 74-acre property west of Interstate 15 and adjacent to US 395 for $4.5 million.

The land includes a large wash that has been home to the Competitive Edge motocross park.

"A few years ago, the [San Bernardino County Fair] had been looking for a potential relocation site," said Hesperia's Director of Economic Development Steve Lantsberger. The fair is currently located in Victorville and is land-locked by development around it, he said.

The land is also close to a planned expansion of Victor Valley College, which is scheduled to open a satellite campus on the southwest corner of Main Street and US 395 in several years.

"We think the future bodes well for the corridor," said Lantsberger.

What the city will eventually do with the land is up in the air: It's being banked for future uses and in the meantime, Lantsberger said, Competitive Edge's lease will continue as-is.

"People approach us frequently with opportunities, but we don't jump at every one of them," he said. "By purchasing the property and allowing the use to continue, we allow for off-road vehicles to be used legally in the city."

The city passed restrictions on off-roading on land not owned by the riders in 2004.

This purchase is unlikely to be the last property snapped up by the city during the down economy.

"We've been buying land throughout the city for the future," said Lantsberger. "Buy low when you can."

Beau Yarbrough can be reached at 956-7108 or at beau@hesperiastar.com. Follow us on Twitter at Twitter.com/HesperiaStar.