A West Chester resident is leading the charge in the creation of a $15 million velodrome in Berks County to promote cycling in the region, writes David Mekeel for the Reading Eagle.

David Chauner, CEO of the World Cycling League and a former cyclist who competed at the 1968 and 1972 Olympics, is currently working with Berks County officials and members of the local cycling community to create the velodrome.

The oval track would be part of a new 95,000-square-foot arena with 2,500 seats and a 25,000-square-foot infield.

The National Velodrome and Events Center in Berks County would be only the second such facility in the entire country, with the other located in Los Angeles. According to Chauner, the World Cycling League would then be able to host 12-16 televised races from October to March each year.

While the location has not yet been finalized, Chauner is convinced that Berks County is the right spot for the new arena.

“We have a cycling history here in Berks County,” he said. “I think this can build on that history. We really have the potential to be a cycling destination.”

Read more about the proposed velodrome in the Reading Eagle here, and check out previous VISTA Today coverage of David Chauner here.