After several delays, construction on an off-roaders park on Sand Island is expected to kick off within the next two weeks, and planners hope to have a track for BMX bikers completed by August.

The 32-acre waterfront park originally was to open in fall 2007, but has been stalled because of several permitting and other delays. Reid Shimabukuro, who has been instrumental in setting up the park, said he's relieved to have overcome the major permit hurdles to start work.

"We knew that it was just a matter of time," he said.

Before the park can open, the off-roaders must secure a lease from the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, which has backed the project as an innovative way to give off-roaders recreational space. The project is a first-of-its-kind partnership between off-roaders of all kinds and the state government.

And off-roaders say it could spur similar parks on other islands.

Enthusiasts envision the Sand Island park catering to all manner of off-road vehicles — from BMX bikes to all-terrain vehicles to four-wheelers.

Shimabukuro said the first phase of work at the park will be to use heavy machinery to build a track for BMX, or bicycle motocross. The next phase will be to build a "peewee track" for kids who ride off-road motorcycles and a track for four-wheelers - trucks fitted with big tires and special suspensions.

DLNR's Curt Cottrell, who has been helping set up the Sand Island park, said the project is a deal for the state, which was able to use about $30,000 in federal money to help cover the costs of required permits and studies.

The park will be maintained by volunteers.

Users of the park will pay fees, which will help cover insurance costs.

A fee schedule for the park has not yet been released.

It's unclear how long the state will lease the park to the off-roaders.

The park location is vacant land, and has no master plan. In the 1970s, there was some hope of turning it into a recreational area for watercraft, but the idea died. The area is next to Sand Island State Park.