Grand Rapids urban bike park

[dennismurphy]

Grand Rapids urban bike park

Thread to discuss conditions and nature of Grand Rapids urban bike park

[Mud_Blaster]

nice, i oughta head out there sometime

[Madeye]

i went out there today, no stunts or pump track that i could find.. say the bmx track.. would still love to ride that sometime..

any news on this? maybe i missed it? but i walked around, didnt ask anyone cause they were busy with their NBL event today.

[2WheeledWarrior]

There is singletrack in the woods behind the BMX track. The pump track and skills area have yet to be built.

[Madeye]

Awesome! Open even when grbmx is closed?

[2WheeledWarrior]

I was under the impression that the new tracks and skills area were to start construction early this past summer. What the heck happened to that? It would be great to have that all in place before the Midwest MTB summit!

[nate.phelps]

Howdy,
This past Tuesday night the city of Grand Rapids Commission unanimously approved our project.
We have a bike park.

A work schedule is being developed as we hope to finish phase 1 in November.
Phase 1 is the pump track and trail development.

[2WheeledWarrior]

Did the pump track get completed?

[nate.phelps]

Ken- we ended up doing site improvements first.
All of the fence is gone, which really change the look of the place.

We have a prelim design for most everything and that goes to the Parks Director for approval.
There are some tweaks that mostly involve footprint, but I want to get the design in soon, have permission,
so that when the weather allows we can start building.

I can say that we think the pump track grew and incorporates a bigger area with more options.
This opens up more trail in the woods and the ability to add additional technical trail features.

We are in the process of purchasing a large quantity of clay. We have also engaged a local construction firm
to adopt-a-park. This company will demo the dugouts and move the dirt from one location to the park.

So nothing tangible built, but it is ok to ride bikes there on the social trails.

[2WheeledWarrior]

How about doing an "adopt-a-trail?" I know there isn't much to adopt, but if one business wold adopt the pump track, one for each loop of single track, etc, we could generate money to keep up and improve the park.

[nate.phelps]

yep, working on it.
Pioneer Construction looks to be the first, details to come.

[2WheeledWarrior]

yep, working on it.
Pioneer Construction looks to be the first, details to come.

Albuquerque, NM has an adopt-a-trail program and it's been very successful. They've got some serious trails, too, being right at the foot of the Sandia Mountains.

[feldpaj]

i heard that there will be work going on starting at 9am 1-11-2010.

how late will people be there working? I could come after work at 5:00.
isnt it going to be hard to build a pump track with the ground frozen?

[nate.phelps]

work has started at the bike park.
Jason Wells from IMBA trail solutions is in town.
Dirt is pretty much in place and sculpting starts.

Thursday afternoon, Friday all day, and Saturday morning we will be working on the pump track.

Around 11am on Saturday we will stop for a workshop/tour. Bring a bike.

[2WheeledWarrior]

I will be there....in spirit.